title: Design of the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study (CePAWHS) strong healthy women intervention: improving preconceptional health.
abstract: Considerable evidence suggests that modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birthweight include obesity, sedentary behavior, and infections. There is a growing consensus that the preconceptional and interconceptional periods may be an ideal time for preventive intervention targeting these risk factors; enhancing health before pregnancy would subsequently reduce the risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. This paper provides an overview of the development of a health behavior intervention, Strong Healthy Women, that aims to improve women's preconceptional and interconceptional health. We describe the rationale, delivery, and targeted outcomes of the program, as well as the design of an ongoing trial currently testing program efficacy. The content areas are also discussed and include pregnancy-conception, stress, physical activity, nutrition, infection, sources of smoke in the home, and substance use. This intervention protocol may offer researchers and healthcare professionals a framework for designing other programs aiming to improve women's preconceptional health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 267-N Recreation Building, University Park, PA 16802-5701, USA. dsd11@psu.edu
authors.forename: Danielle Symons
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feinberg
authors.forename: Marianne M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hillemeier
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Weisman
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Chase
authors.forename: Cynthia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parrott
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010414:Pennsylvania; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000592:standards*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult