DEFINITION, PREVALENCE & RISK FACTORS
DEFINITION
- Preconception care: interventions provided before pregnancy to improve outcomes for mother and child
PREVALENCE
- 80% of couples conceive within the first year of trying
- 50% of remaining couples conceive in the second year
RISK FACTORS
- BMI >30
- Personal/family history of neural tube defects
- Diabetes
- Schizophrenia
- Thalassemia
- Smoking
- Alcohol use
- Illicit drug use
- Uncontrolled chronic conditions (e.g. thyroid disease, epilepsy)
- Genetic predisposition based on ethnicity