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Design of the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study (CePAWHS) Strong Healthy Women Intervention: Improving Preconceptional Health

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Abstract

Considerable evidence suggests that modifiable risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birthweight include obesity, sedentary behavior, and infections. There is a growing consensus that the preconceptional and interconceptional periods may be an ideal time for preventive intervention targeting these risk factors; enhancing health before pregnancy would subsequently reduce the risk for poor pregnancy outcomes. This paper provides an overview of the development of a health behavior intervention, Strong Healthy Women, that aims to improve women’s preconceptional and interconceptional health. We describe the rationale, delivery, and targeted outcomes of the program, as well as the design of an ongoing trial currently testing program efficacy. The content areas are also discussed and include pregnancy-conception, stress, physical activity, nutrition, infection, sources of smoke in the home, and substance use. This intervention protocol may offer researchers and healthcare professionals a framework for designing other programs aiming to improve women’s preconceptional health.

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Acknowledgments

This project is funded, in part, under grant number 4100020719 with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department specifically disclaims responsibility for any analyses, interpretations or conclusions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 267-N Recreation Building, University Park, PA, 16802-5701, USA

    Danielle Symons Downs

  2. Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Mark Feinberg

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Marianne M. Hillemeier, Carol S. Weisman & Gary A. Chase

  4. Division of General Internal Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Cynthia H. Chuang

  5. Department of Communication Arts & Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Roxanne Parrott

  6. Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Lori A. Francis

Authors
  1. Danielle Symons Downs
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  2. Mark Feinberg
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  3. Marianne M. Hillemeier
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  4. Carol S. Weisman
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  8. Lori A. Francis
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Correspondence to Danielle Symons Downs.

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Downs, D.S., Feinberg, M., Hillemeier, M.M. et al. Design of the Central Pennsylvania Women’s Health Study (CePAWHS) Strong Healthy Women Intervention: Improving Preconceptional Health. Matern Child Health J 13, 18–28 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0323-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0323-7

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