Understand the topic
What this means in daily life
Preconception care is a voluntary opportunity to discuss health before a possible pregnancy. Qualified professionals should tailor advice to the person’s circumstances, including when pregnancy is not currently desired.
The service should be accessible because a person wants information or support, not because a pregnancy is expected. A proposed pathway would offer private professional discussion and clear referral choices while respecting a decision to postpone or avoid pregnancy.
Data reference table
Evidence Snapshot
Read each value with its reporting period, population and limitations. A historical national reference is not a local baseline or proof that an IFT proposal works.
5 measurement records still need data and a review of their relevance.
| Signal | Reference Value | Period / Population | How to Read It | Source Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early registration and quality ANC | Not established Data required — not zero | Reporting period: Information Required Population and geography: Information Required | Proposed measure; no observed value is established here. Limitations: Define the measure, unit, reporting period and covered population; obtain a traceable dataset and review its suitability for this topic before using a number. | Source organisation: Information Required Direct source URL: not yet verified Source publication date: not established Verification status: Data required |
| Risk detection-to-referral time | Not established Data required — not zero | Reporting period: Information Required Population and geography: Information Required | Proposed measure; no observed value is established here. Limitations: Define the measure, unit, reporting period and covered population; obtain a traceable dataset and review its suitability for this topic before using a number. | Source organisation: Information Required Direct source URL: not yet verified Source publication date: not established Verification status: Data required |
| Emergency obstetric readiness | Not established Data required — not zero | Reporting period: Information Required Population and geography: Information Required | Proposed measure; no observed value is established here. Limitations: Define the measure, unit, reporting period and covered population; obtain a traceable dataset and review its suitability for this topic before using a number. | Source organisation: Information Required Direct source URL: not yet verified Source publication date: not established Verification status: Data required |
| Severe maternal morbidity/mortality | Not established Data required — not zero | Reporting period: Information Required Population and geography: Information Required | Proposed measure; no observed value is established here. Limitations: Define the measure, unit, reporting period and covered population; obtain a traceable dataset and review its suitability for this topic before using a number. | Source organisation: Information Required Direct source URL: not yet verified Source publication date: not established Verification status: Data required |
| Postnatal and newborn continuity | Not established Data required — not zero | Reporting period: Information Required Population and geography: Information Required | Proposed measure; no observed value is established here. Limitations: Define the measure, unit, reporting period and covered population; obtain a traceable dataset and review its suitability for this topic before using a number. | Source organisation: Information Required Direct source URL: not yet verified Source publication date: not established Verification status: Data required |
Different surveys, administrative records, estimates and reporting years are not interchangeable. No combined IFT score is calculated from these rows.
Evidence coverage and review log (CSV) · Structured evidence register (JSON)
10 ideas for this topic
What could be done — and what needs testing
These are proposals for research and local testing. They are not claims that a project has been funded, implemented or proved successful.
Voluntary invitation
Offer a private professional conversation without assuming pregnancy plans
What to check: Check whether declining affects other care
Nutrition review
Connect requested nutrition advice to qualified practitioners
What to check: Avoid universal supplement recommendations from the platform
Anaemia assessment access
Review routes to clinically indicated assessment and follow-up
What to check: Check that results reach the responsible clinician
Chronic-condition continuity
Help users connect existing care with preconception discussion
What to check: Verify responsibility between specialist and primary teams
Medicine review access
Offer qualified review of current medicines where relevant
What to check: Never advise stopping prescribed treatment through public content
Vaccination discussion
Provide access to a professional review of relevant immunisation needs
What to check: Date any clinical information and obtain appropriate review
Reproductive options
Explain where voluntary contraception or fertility advice is available
What to check: Check privacy and absence of pressure
Mental-health support
Offer qualified confidential support when wanted
What to check: Check whether the referral is reachable and accepted
Accessible appointments
Review language travel and disability barriers
What to check: Compare opening hours with work and care demands
Care-plan ownership
Give the person an understandable account of agreed next steps
What to check: Check consent before sharing it with another service
References and evidence limits
- WHO: Preconception care policy brief
Professional preconception care and multisector access; no medicine or supplement instructions.
Reference guidance informs the proposal. It does not establish local conditions, approve a design or prove that these proposed projects work.