title: Preconception care in France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preconception care is advocated throughout the world as a tool for improving perinatal outcomes. However, the proportion of women in France who attend a dedicated medical preconception visit is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a retrospective study among 401 women who delivered at a maternity clinic or hospital in France to determine how many of them had attended a preconception visit. We also collected information on various preconception care behaviors such as folate supplementation and alcohol or tobacco cessation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 21.6% of the women took a folate prescription, and 91.3% and 68.6% of women stopped alcohol and tobacco consumption, respectively. Of the 80.2% of women who visited a doctor within the 6 months before conception, only 13.8% discussed their planned pregnancy at this visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the rate of vitamin supplementation remains low, there has been an increase in adequate preconception care behavior. This indicates that improvement is possible and should be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris VII, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luton
authors.affiliation: Merck Médication Familiale, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forestier
authors.affiliation: Merck Médication Familiale, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Courau
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris VII, Paris, France. Electronic address: pf.ceccaldi@bjn.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Ceccaldi
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003142:Communication; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005602:France; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Care; Folate; Preconception