Factors Influencing Intention to Change Preconception Lifestyle Among Reproductive Age Women

Abstract

     This predictive correlation study aimed to determine factors influencing intention to change preconception lifestyle among reproductive women. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit the sample of 397 women who visited marriage registration District Offices at Mueang Chonburi, Mueang Rayong, and Mueang Chachoengsao. Research instruments were questionnaires to gather data for demographic information, preconception knowledge, preconception belief, perceived barriers regarding preconception care, social influence, perceived self-efficacy, and intention to change preconception lifestyle. Their reliability values were .89, .80, .79, 75, .85, and .80, respectively. Data were collected from October 2021 to January 2022. Descriptive statistics and Standard multiple regression were used to analyze the data.

     The results revealed that age, preconception knowledge, preconception belief, perceived barriers regarding preconception care, social influence, perceived self-efficacy together explained 54.9 % of variance in intention to change preconception lifestyle (R² = .549, p < .001). The significant predictors of intention to change preconception lifestyle were self-efficacy (β = .642, p < .001), social influence (β = .106, p < .05), and perceived barrier regarding preconception (β = -.076, p < .05). The factors such as age, preconception knowledge, and preconception belief did not significantly predict intention to change preconception lifestyle. The findings may aid healthcare personnel to develop activities to assess and encourage women’s self-efficacy, promote their social influence, and counsel them to reduce their perception of preconception barriers. In addition, it will foster reproductive women to have a high intention to change their preconception lifestyle.