All women and men of reproductive age will achieve optimal health and wellness, fostering a healthy life course for them and any children they may have.With significant support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Research and Surveillance Workgroup developed a targeted set of indicators to better allow states to monitor the preconception health and preconception care of their populations. The Research and Surveillance Workgroup developed a systematic process to evaluate, prioritize, and select 10 indicators that state maternal and child health programs can use for preconception health surveillance.
To learn about the process and review the condensed set of preconception health indicators, please see the following publications:
- Preconception Health Indicators for Public Health Surveillance, Journal of Women’s Health, 2018
- Disparities in Preconception Health Indicators – Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013-2015, and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2013-2014, MMWR Surveill Summ, 2018
- Making the Case: The Importance of Using 10 Key Preconception Indicators in Understanding the Health of Women of Reproductive Age, Journal of Women’s Health, 2018
- Diabetes During Pregnancy: Surveillance, Preconception Care, and Postpartum Care, Journal of Women’s Health, 2018
The Research and Surveillance Workgroup and Clinical Workgroup used a similar systematic process to identify and evaluate preconception care indicators from nationwide public health surveillance systems that MCH programs can use for state-level surveillance. A manuscript describing the process will be published in 2019. The Research and Surveillance Workgroup and Clinical Workgroup are collaborating on a dissemination plan for future publications and efforts to promote preconception care surveillance.
