title: Knowledge and attitudes regarding preconception care in a predominantly low-income Mexican American population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine knowledge and attitudes regarding preconception care in a low-income Mexican American population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional survey of 305 reproductive-age women at an urban public hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was mostly Hispanic (88%) and pregnant (68%); 35% had not completed high school. Eighty-nine percent agreed that improving preconception health benefits pregnancy. Seventy-seven percent expressed some interest in preconception health care with the obstetrics gynecology office at the preferred location. The average knowledge of preconception care score was 76% (higher score more favorable). Areas of higher knowledge included the effects on pregnancy of folic acid; alcohol use; substance use; and verbal, physical, and sexual abuse; lower knowledge was found for the effects of cat litter and fish products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was interest in preconception education and agreement that preconception health has a positive effect on pregnancy. Fewer respondents agreed that it had a good effect than a suburban sample in the same region (89% vs 98%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, Maricopa Integrated Health System/MedPro, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Dean V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Coonrod
authors.forename: Natalie C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: Theresa D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Malcolm
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drachman
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D016742:Preconception Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult