title: Preconception care policy, guidelines, recommendations and services across six European countries: Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preconception care is important for the screening, prevention and management of risk factors that affect pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to investigate pre-pregnancy care policies, guidelines, recommendations and services in six European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2013, an electronic search and investigation was undertaken of preconception policy, guidelines, recommendations and services available to healthcare professionals and the general public in six European countries: Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Findings were compared within five categories: Governmental policy and legislation; Professional bodies and organisations; Healthcare providers; Charitable organisations; Web-based public information and internet sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All countries had preconception recommendations for women with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and epilepsy. Recommendations for healthy women and men were fragmented and inconsistent. Preconception guidance was often included in antenatal and pregnancy guidelines. Differences between countries were seen with regard to nutritional and lifestyle advice particularly in relation to fish, caffeine and alcohol consumption, and vitamin supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current guidelines are heterogeneous. Collaborative research across Europe is required in order to develop evidence-based guidelines for preconception health and care. There is a need to establish a clear strategy for promoting advice and guidance within the European childbearing population.
authors.affiliation: * Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey , Guildford , UK.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shawe
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delbaere
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekstrand
authors.forename: Hanne Kristine
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hegaard
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mastroiacovo
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steegers
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tydén
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Europe; Guidelines; Policy; Pre-pregnancy health and care; Preconception care; Pregnancy