title: Advancing preconception health in the United States: strategies for change.
abstract: In January 2015, the US Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative (PCHHC) established a new national vision that all women and men of reproductive age will achieve optimal health and wellness, fostering a healthy life course for them and any children they may have. Achieving this vision presents both challenges and opportunities. This manuscript describes the reasons why the US needs to prioritize preconception health as well as its efforts historically to advance change. The authors share lessons from past work and current strategies in the US to reach this ambitious goal.
authors.affiliation: a National Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.|b Center for Maternal and Infant Health, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.|c School of Social Work, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verbiest
authors.affiliation: a National Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.|b Center for Maternal and Infant Health, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.affiliation: a National Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.|b Center for Maternal and Infant Health, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woodward
keywords: Family planning; infant mortality; interconception; life planning; maternal mortality; preconception; preconception care; preconception health; reproductive health