Understanding preconception care practices, beliefs, and attitudes in Australian primary care: A qualitative study of health professionals

BackgroundPrimary care is well placed to provide preconception care. To support primary care professionals in meeting the preconception care needs of prospective parents, an understanding of their perspectives and experiences of providing preconception care is needed. As women consult with a range of primary care health professionals for preconception care, including general practitioners (GPs), midwives, and naturopaths, this study aimed to explore these health professions beliefs and attitudes towards preconception care and describe their preconception care practice behaviours in Australia. MethodsQualitative methods were employed. Focus groups and interviews with health professionals (n=18) in clinical practice (more than 5 years) within Australia were conducted between May and August 2021. Health professionals comprised GPs (n=6), midwives (n=5), and naturopaths (n=7) and were recruited through professional organisations. Fieldwork explored the practice services provided, beliefs and attitudes towards preconception care, and preconception care practice behaviours. Data analysis used a framework thematic analysis approach. ResultsThree major themes were identified: Defining preconception health and care (subthemes: defining preconception health and defining preconception care), Understanding primary practitioners role in preconception care (subthemes: the GPs role as central to preconception care, role is holistic, educational, and empowering and role of personal experience and gender in being a preconception care provider), and Situating preconception care in primary care practice (subthemes: preconception care patient populations, preconception care within broader health services and preconception health information sources are varied). ConclusionsWhile health professionals shared similar views on the factors that comprise preconception health, some components of preconception health differed among the health professional groups. Although it is universally agreed that GPs are key providers of preconception care, they are not the only health professionals with a role. A wider range of health professionals could aid in meeting the preconception care needs of people of reproductive age with greater coordination among them. To improve the provision of multi-disciplinary preconception care further insights into shared and complementary responsibilities among health professionals in primary care settings are needed.