title: Optimizing Preconception Health among Young Women: What Are We Missing?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether receipt of specific preconception counseling topics differs between teen, young adult, and older mothers. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A survey of 291 primarily low-income, minority mothers with young children at pediatric practices in Baltimore, Maryland was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression models generated relative odds of preconception counseling receipt comparing teens (ages 14-19 years) and young adults (ages 20-24 years) to adult women (age ≥25 years) controlling for demographic characteristics, parity, and pregnancy intention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teen mothers were less than half as likely to be counseled about taking folic acid, 4 times more likely to be counseled about vaccines, and twice as likely to be counseled about mental health before pregnancy compared with adult mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent preventive care might promote some aspects of preconception health, but topics related specifically to pregnancy outcomes might be missed. Because of the high rate of unplanned teen pregnancy in the United States, additional strategies to promote preconception health in this population are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: kupadhy2@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Krishna K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Upadhya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Jalazo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Office of Extramural Research, Education and Priority Populations, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Kamila B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Tina L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015142:Baltimore; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Preconception health; Teen pregnancy; Unintended pregnancy