The effect of preconception counselling on health locus of control and stress in Iranian women: a randomized control trial

ABSTRACT

Preconception counseling can improve women’s health and pregnancy outcomes. Internal health locus of control and belief in the benefits of health-promoting behaviors improve people’s engagement in health-promoting behaviors. This study examined whether preconception counseling was related to stress and health locus of control. This randomized controlled trial was conducted from March to November 2016 on 152 healthy 18–35-year-old women intending to become pregnant within the next year in Iran. The intervention group received six sessions of group counseling, and the control group received only usual care. The Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales and checklist for preconception control were completed before and after the intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant post-intervention increase in the mean internal health locus of control (P < .001) and preconception control scores (P = .034) in the intervention group and the mean perceived stress score (P = .001), and chance health locus of control (P = .013) decreased significantly. Preconception counseling was associated with increased internal locus of control and reduced perceived stress. Preconception counselors should consider reinforcing women’s internal beliefs with an emphasis on the effect of the couple’s own behaviors and exposures on pregnancy and fetal outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Counseling
• health locus of control
• preconception
• stress

Acknowledgments

Hereby, the authors would like to express their gratitude to the Research Deputy of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Tabriz School of Nursing and Midwifery, the participating women and the personnel of Bonab healthcare centers for their sincere cooperation in the study.

Ethics Approval

This study was approved by the ethics committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (ID: 1054).

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Study design and participants

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 152 healthy women presenting to health centers in Bonab-Iran from March to November 2016. The study inclusion criteria consisted of being female, age 18 to 35, self-reported physical and mental health (lack of underlying diseases), intention to become pregnant within the next year, junior high school education and higher; having records in the healthcare centers of Bonab, ability to become pregnant (with no history of hysterectomy or tubal ligation and no other causes of infertility) and willingness to participate in the study. The exclusion criterion was having underlying diseases.

Additional information

Funding

This study is part of a large clinical trial entitled “The effects of preconception lifestyle counseling on awareness and lifestyle in women intending to become pregnant”, which the health locus of control and stress was as its secondary outcomes. This study was funded by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.