In the realm of global healthcare, the FIGO Preconception Checklist emerges as a vital instrument empowering healthcare providers to assess risk factors and health issues contributing to maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Crafted to streamline planning and healthcare management during the preconception period, this tool aims not only to optimize patients’ health before pregnancy but also to standardize preconception care globally.
The preconception period, often deemed a “window of opportunity,” holds immense potential in the pursuit of reducing maternal and perinatal deaths and diseases—a pressing concern on the global health agenda. The implementation of preventative care becomes imperative to curbing the average maternal mortality rate worldwide and eradicating deaths of newborns and children under five years. Consequently, focusing on health risks and fostering healthier habits during the preconception phase stands as a crucial strategy for preventing maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity.
Comprehensive preconception care encompasses biomedical, behavioral, and social health interventions for women and couples before conception. Its overarching goal is to mitigate habits and factors that might contribute to adverse maternal and child health outcomes while enhancing both short-term and long-term maternal and child health.
FIGO’s unwavering commitment to preconception care is evident in the Preconception Checklist, addressing key factors like pre-existing chronic medical conditions, poor nutrition, weight conditions, harmful environmental exposures, infectious diseases, unhealthy lifestyles, insufficient vaccination history, and inadequate inter-pregnancy intervals.
Recognizing the pivotal role of public health services, FIGO emphasizes the necessity for healthcare professionals to deliver appropriate preconception care during routine visits, irrespective of pregnancy intentions.
FIGO not only underscores the significance of preconception care but also actively supports its implementation through various initiatives. This includes developing and disseminating resources for healthcare professionals, such as the FIGO Preconception Checklist, ensuring awareness among healthcare systems, policymakers, and providers about the impact of preconception care on both short- and long-term health, advocating for capacity building for healthcare providers and educators, and providing resources to facilitate data collection and monitoring mechanisms at institutional and national levels to assess and monitor existing preconception care practices. FIGO’s commitment stands as a beacon, guiding the global community towards a healthier and safer preconception period for women and couples worldwide.
