title: Perceptions of preconception counselling among women planning a pregnancy: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preconception care is a promising new approach to improve the health of future children through primary intervention. Although most women have a positive attitude towards preconception care, women often do not seek preconception care for themselves.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore women's hesitancy to seek preconception counselling.
  
  
  METHODS
  An empirical-analytic approach was used to explore women's hesitation to seek preconception counselling. In-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews (n = 16) of women desiring to conceive were conducted, and responses were analysed using the determinants 'attitude' and 'subjective norms' of the Theory of Planned Behaviour of Ajzen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interviewed women expressed a positive attitude towards preconception care in general but were hesitant about seeking preconception care themselves. Women seemed to regard themselves as not being in the target group for preconception care. Additionally, we identified the following four subthemes of subjective norms around the process of becoming pregnant: planning, publicity, information on fertility and artificiality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women do not consider themselves to be part of the target group for preconception care. In some aspects, subjective norms around the process of becoming pregnant may conflict with the current practice of preconception care. Recommendations are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. boukjevanderzee@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Boukje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Zee
authors.forename: Inez D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: de Beaufort
authors.forename: Eric A P
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Steegers
authors.forename: Semiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denktas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research