Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, NT, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2021 Feb;32 Suppl 1:179-185. doi: 10.1002/hpja.392. Epub 2020 Sep 1.
Healthy behaviours prior to conception can improve pregnancy outcomes and intergenerational health. Adolescence is an important period to promote preconception health, but education resources need to be age and culturally appropriate. Few studies have addressed preconception awareness and knowledge among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, and few culturally appropriate resources exist.
A mixed methods, co-design process engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and an Indigenous Reference Group (IRG). Additionally, a survey was carried out to identify preconception health awareness and interest among a broader youth audience.
Several main themes emerged from consultation meetings with youth reflecting an awareness of preconception health, but limited understanding. Youth revealed an interest in fertility, and a need for more information on lifestyle factors associated with infertility. Preconception information related to the opposite sex was seen as important as well as information incorporating current local knowledge and world views. Among the survey respondents, 46% (11/24) had a pre-existing understanding of preconception health. Optimising lifestyle behaviours prior to pregnancy was perceived as important for women (21/24; 88%), but less so for men (16/24; 67%), highlighting a gap in knowledge regarding the importance of preconception health for men.
The co-designed resource "Getting healthy before pregnancy" is available in print and electronically, with illustrations and synchronised audio overlay in Aboriginal English or East-side Kriol. The resource includes information on preconception health and behavioural risk factors.
We present a co-designed preconception health resource for evaluation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
健康的受孕前行为可以改善妊娠结局和代际健康。青春期是促进受孕前健康的重要时期，但教育资源需要符合年龄和文化特点。很少有研究涉及到原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民青年的受孕前意识和知识，也很少有文化适宜的资源存在。
采用混合方法、共同设计的过程，让原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民青年和一个原住民参考小组（IRG）参与。此外，还进行了一项调查，以确定更广泛的青年群体对受孕前健康的意识和兴趣。
青年咨询会议上出现了几个主要主题，反映出他们对受孕前健康的意识，但理解有限。青年们对生育能力表现出兴趣，并需要更多关于与不孕不育相关的生活方式因素的信息。与异性相关的受孕前信息以及包含当前当地知识和世界观的信息也被认为很重要。在调查对象中，46%（11/24）对受孕前健康已有预先的了解。优化怀孕前的生活方式行为被认为对女性（21/24；88%）很重要，但对男性（16/24；67%）则不那么重要，这突显了关于男性受孕前健康重要性的知识差距。
共同设计的资源“怀孕前保持健康”以印刷和电子形式提供，有原住民英语或东海岸克里奥尔语的插图和同步音频覆盖。该资源包括受孕前健康和行为风险因素的信息。
我们为原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民青年提供了一个共同设计的受孕前健康资源，以供评估。
