Background:
In 2006, the CDC released a topical MMWR “Recommendations to Improve Preconception Health and Health Care – United States”. The sixth recommendation listed in this volume is to “offer, as a component of maternity care, one prepregnancy visit for couples and persons planning pregnancy”.

Objectives:
Are Utah women getting a preconception visit?

Methods:
In 2004, Utah PRAMS added the following question to the survey “Before you got pregnant with your new baby, did you talk with a doctor, nurse, or other health care worker to prepare for a healthy pregnancy and baby?” Using 2004 and 2005 Utah PRAMS data, we looked at this question across demographics and pregnancy risk factors. These data give us an idea of who is getting preconception visits, what barriers there may be to obtaining preconception visits, and if better pregnancy outcomes are associated with having had a preconception visit.

Results:
In 2004/2005, 26% of Utah women reported receiving a preconception visit. Women significantly less likely to receive a preconception visit were those who were less than 25 years of age, had less than a high school education, were Hispanic, had no health insurance prior to pregnancy, had lower poverty levels, had an unintended pregnancy, reported physical abuse prior to pregnancy, smoked prior to pregnancy, and were multiparous. Higher rates of preconception visits were not seen among women with chronic health conditions or previous poor pregnancy outcomes. Preconception care was associated with higher rates of first trimester prenatal care and multivitamin consumption.

Conclusion and implications for practice:
In general, preconception care visits are low among Utah PRAMS respondents. Education regarding the value of preconception care should be targeted to all reproductive aged women, but focus could be given to higher risk groups as identified above. Further analysis on outcomes by preconception visit reporting, especially among women with chronic diseases, should be conducted.