Erratum: Current state of preconception care in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic scoping review

No abstract available.

Current state of preconception care in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic scoping review

Background

Preconception care (PCC) utilisation is essential to extend and complete the health continuum. However, these services are not yet incorporated into many low-income countries’ existing maternal health services.

Aim

This study aims to review the current literature on the knowledge, utilisation and provision of PCC.

Setting

This included women and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Methods

Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology framework is used in this study. The following databases, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus and Dissertation via ProQuest, were searched. Articles that met the eligibility criteria were included in this study.

Results

Out of the 451 retrieved articles, 39 were relevant. In most studies, women’s utilisation and HCW’s provision of PCC were considered limited. Their knowledge, however, varies between studies, and there were a few studies conducted among women with chronic conditions. Several factors influenced women and HCWs’ knowledge, utilisation and provision of PCC, including age, level of education, employment, practice area, resources and knowledge. Preconception care interventions most commonly identified, utilised and provided were HIV testing, counselling and family planning, while preconception folic acid supplementation was the least.

Conclusion

The estimates of knowledge and utilisation were suboptimal among women, while provision was the worst affected among HCWs. Gaps exist between the HCW knowledge and practice of PCC. There is a need to promote, prioritise, integrate and optimise the opportunistic provision of PCC in SSA. There is also a need for more studies on PCC provision and utilisation among women with chronic medical conditions.

Primary health care nursing students' knowledge of and attitude towards the provision of preconception care in KwaZulu-Natal

Background

Sub-Saharan African countries have been the worst affected by the high incidence of maternal and child mortality rates and HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) pandemic. Preventive care is the area that requires serious attention as a lot of maternal and child morbidity and mortality can be averted through rendering comprehensive care to women of child-bearing age. Preconception care (PCC) is recognised as an important factor in improving pregnancy outcome; yet, most primary health care (PHC) nurses lack the necessary resources to render PCC.

Aim

To describe the PHC nursing student’s knowledge of and attitude towards the provision of PCC.

Setting

Higher Education Institution that offers PHC programme at six different sites to nurses working in the PHC clinics in the province.

Methods

A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive study design was used. The total population from three sites selected, based on their geographical location were all invited to participate in the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data which was subsequently analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.

Results

The response rate was approximately 85% (n = 138). The respondents have practised in the PHC clinic for more than 1 year. Study centre, age and area of employment were found to be predictors of knowledge, but no direct association was found between the demographic factor and attitude. Furthermore, a significant difference was found between knowledge and age, and between the area of employment and attitude.

Conclusion

PHC nursing students were knowledgeable and had a favourable attitude towards PCC, but the absence of PCC resources in many practices has hindered them to a greater extent. It is recommended that for proper implementation of PCC to occur, health care workers should be provided with the necessary resources.