Studying the Opinions of Medical Workers about Preconception Care

Abstract

Abstract. Objective: to study the opinion of medical personnel (doctors and nurses) on the methods of preconception care and measures to improve the provision of medical care before conception in Kazakhstan (Karaganda region). Design: The data obtained during the study were subjected to statistical processing by the method of variation statistics using the free version of the EPI InfoTM program. The arithmetic mean (M) and standard deviation (±SD) were calculated for quantitative indicators, the data were presented as M±SD. The Krusk-Wallis test (H test) was used to compare means. Absolute (n) and relative (%) values ​​describe qualitative variables. χ2 were used to compare frequencies and qualitative variables. The critical significance level (p) when testing statistical hypotheses was taken as 0.05. Conditions: In the Karaganda region, a survey was conducted among doctors of the specialty general practitioner, general practitioner/family doctor, obstetrician-gynecologist and nursing staff. The survey was aimed at identifying the knowledge of health professionals about preconception care and at identifying barriers and factors preventing preconception care. Participants: 365 doctors and 375 nurses/midwives took part in the survey. Results: medical staff were asked to fill out a questionnaire, which addressed issues related to the ways of providing PC, barriers to the implementation of PC. 40% (n=292) of respondents noted that preconception care should be carried out by specialists from the family planning office. 24.3% (n=180) do not conduct conversations on preconception care due to lack of time, knowledge, a clear algorithm for conducting PC, and because they do not consider it their functional duty. Measures were proposed to improve the level of provision of preconception training in the Republic of Kazakhstan.