Women’s Health Behaviors Stages of Change (Transtheoretical Model) in Preconception Period: A Randomized Control Study

Objective: Preconceptional care can be defined as optimizing the health, health behaviors and information of a woman who plans a pregnancy. The study’s aim was to investigate the effect given education women who have never had any pregnancy, considering pregnancy to stages of change of health behaviors in women. Materials and Methods: The study is a randomized controlled education intervention trial. The sample size was calculated to be at least 88 women in each group with G*Power 3.1.7 program. The study was terminated with 180 women. The women who came to the center were evaluated in terms of sample criteria and randomized sampling was divided into two groups. In the first interview, all the women were given: Introductory Information Form, Preconceptional Risk Assessment Form, Evaluation Form of Change Stages, Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale-II and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Women who intervention group was training to preparation for pregnancy and was given a guide book called on Preconception Care Guide. Women in the control group were not trained. Results: The women in intervention group between pre-post test results statistically was found to be increased significant difference that based on the effect health behaviors on the stages of change given education about use of folic acid, practice of regular physical activity, adequate and balanced nutrition. Conclusions: Pregnancy preparation training given in the preconception period had a positive effect on the use of folic acid, regular physical activity, and change in health behaviors towards adequate and balanced nutrition, general self-efficacy level and healthy lifestyle behaviors.