Tackling inequalities in preconception health and care: barriers, facilitators and recommendations for action from the 2023 UK preconception EMCR network conference

Schoenaker, Danielle; Hall, Jennifer; Stewart, Catherine; Hanley, Stephanie J.; Cassinelli, Emma H.; Benton, Madeleine; Azzari Wynn-Jones, Alexandra; Chawla, Mehar; Currie, Sinéad; 2023 UK Preconception EMCR Network conference workshop participants

Abstract

Reducing inequalities in preconception health and care is critical to improving the health and life chances of current and future generations. A hybrid workshop was held at the 2023 UK Preconception Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR) Network conference to co-develop recommendations on ways to address inequalities in preconception health and care. The workshop engaged multi-disciplinary professionals across diverse career stages and people with lived experience (total n = 69). Interactive discussions explored barriers to achieving optimal preconception health, driving influences of inequalities and recommendations. The Socio-Ecological Model framed the identified themes, with recommendations structured at interpersonal (e.g. community engagement), institutional (e.g. integration of preconception care within existing services) and environmental/societal levels (e.g. education in schools). The co-developed recommendations provide a framework for addressing inequalities in preconception health, emphasising the importance of a whole-systems approach. Further research and evidence-based interventions are now needed to advance the advocacy and implementation of our recommendations.

Citation

Schoenaker, D., Hall, J., Stewart, C., Hanley, S. J., Cassinelli, E. H., Benton, M., Azzari Wynn-Jones, A., Chawla, M., Currie, S., & 2023 UK Preconception EMCR Network conference workshop participants. (2024). Tackling inequalities in preconception health and care: barriers, facilitators and recommendations for action from the 2023 UK preconception EMCR network conference. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 15, 24-25. https://doi.org/10.1017/S204017442400031X

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 27, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Publication Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
• Print ISSN: 2040-1744
• Electronic ISSN: 2040-1752
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Pages: 24-25
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S204017442400031X
• Keywords: Inequalities; Preconception; Pregnancy planning; Policy; Recommendations
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4870817
• Additional Information: I am a UK Preconception EMCR Network conference workshop participant for the article.