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Preconception Health Assessment in China, Lebanon and the Philippines: Applicability to Other Countries

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Abstract

To test the utility of a preconception checklist tool in identifying preconception health needs of women in three countries; China, Lebanon and the Philippines. An academic medical center within each country participated in the development and testing of a preconception checklist tool, which was administered over a 6 month period to selected target groups in each country. The checklist provided valuable data on the preconception health of 6,530 women. Aggregated data identified common preconception health needs across all countries, including provision of modern contraceptives and adequate immunization coverage; HIV and STI screening; treatment for anemia; and counseling for maintenance of a healthy weight. A preconception checklist tool was found to be useful in distinct cultural settings. The study was a pilot. Future steps include validation and standardization of the checklist, data from which could be used to help shape preconception care policies and implementation strategies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the March of Dimes Foundation for the project. Dr. Padilla would like to acknowledge the contribution of Aster Lynn Sur and Ariel Lescano in data collection and analysis in the Philippines. Dr. Zhong would like to acknowledge the contribution of Drs. Lixia Zhang, Fengying Ma and Xiaoyan He for their role in data collection and analysis in China. Each was supported through funding from the March of Dimes Foundation grant for the project. Dr Yunis acknowledges the assistance of his team at the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network and the Lebanese Obstetrics Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Programs, March of Dimes Foundation, White Plains, NY, USA

    Christopher P. Howson

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Lama Charafeddine & Khalid Yunis

  3. Center of Medical Genetics, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Nanbert Zhong & Xinliang Zhao

  4. Department of Genetics, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines

    Carmencita D. Padilla

  5. National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network, Beirut, Lebanon

    Reem El Rafei

  6. Department of Emergency Medicine, Labib Medical Center-Newborn Services, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    Kawthar Alamiddine

  7. Jiangsu Provincial Maternal and Children’s Hospital, Nanjing, China

    Xiaoqing Jiang

  8. Global Maternal and Preconception Health, Healdsburg, CA, USA

    Mary-Elizabeth Reeve

Authors
  1. Mary-Elizabeth Reeve
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  2. Lama Charafeddine
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  3. Nanbert Zhong
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  4. Carmencita D. Padilla
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  5. Khalid Yunis
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  6. Reem El Rafei
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  7. Kawthar Alamiddine
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  8. Xinliang Zhao
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  9. Xiaoqing Jiang
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  10. Christopher P. Howson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary-Elizabeth Reeve.

Additional information

Mary-Elizabeth Reeve retired from the March of Dimes Foundation.

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Reeve, ME., Charafeddine, L., Zhong, N. et al. Preconception Health Assessment in China, Lebanon and the Philippines: Applicability to Other Countries. Matern Child Health J 18, 1066–1074 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1334-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1334-6

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