Skip to content
Medical Health Aged Care

Pre-pregnancy risk factors are common amongst women of reproductive age

Monash University 2 mins read

Researchers want to improve the recording of pregnancy risk factors in GP medical records for their women patients after a Monash University-led audit found a concerning number were at risk. 

 

Published in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, the audit of 10 Melbourne general practices found a significant number of women patients aged 18-44 had conditions that could complicate pregnancy.

 

This included a mental health condition (28 per cent), obesity (24 per cent), possibly using medication that could cause birth defects (17 per cent), smoking (14 per cent), asthma (13 per cent), high blood pressure (7 per cent), thyroid disease (6 per cent) and diabetes (5 per cent).

 

First author and Monash University SPHERE Centre for Research Excellence PhD candidate, Nishadi Withanage, said it was the first audit of its kind.

 

Ms Withanage said the results demonstrated a large burden of risk among women visiting GPs, and highlighted the potential of electronic medical records (EMRs) to identify those who could most benefit from preconception care.

 

“Preconception care refers to interventions provided before pregnancy that reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and optimise maternal and child health,” she said.

 

“While Australian general practice is ideally placed to provide preconception care it is currently not routinely provided and there is no systematic way to identify women who may most benefit from preconception care in these settings.

 

Utilising electronic medical records to identify those most at risk and invite them to receive preconception care might be a way forward.”

 

Ms Withanage said documenting medical and lifestyle preconception health risk factors could help primary care providers identify and provide preconception care to women who may benefit.

 

She said while the study highlighted the potential for EMRs to be used to instigate preconception care, they were currently not used for this purpose.

 

“Initiatives to support and improve the quality of information recorded in EMRs are warranted,” she said. “We also recommend changes to the EMR software such as including a structured field for recording reproductive intent.” 

 

If EMRs are to be used to improve preconception care, GPs will need to maximise their use of existing structured fields and ensure data is regularly updated. They could prioritise recording information in structured fields instead of free text in clinical notes, for efficient retrieval during subsequent consultations.


“Involving receptionist staff and practice managers in providing feedback reports on preconception health data quality can enhance the completeness of the EMR,” Ms Withanage said.

 

“We do not anticipate that there will be any privacy issues. However, prior to implementing a system that instigates preconception care based on an EMR-generated risk profile, it is important to investigate acceptability towards this from both the providers’ and consumers’ perspectives.” 

 

Read more on Monash University’s thought leadership platform Lens

 

For media enquiries please contact:

 

Monash University

Cheryl Critchley – Media and Communications Manager (medical)
E:
cheryl.critchley@monash.edu

T: +61 (0) 477 571 442

 

For more Monash media stories, visit our news and events site 


For general media enquiries please contact:
Monash Media
E: 
media@monash.edu
T: +61 (0) 3 9903 4840

 

***ENDS***

 

More from this category

  • Medical Health Aged Care, Women
  • 11/02/2025
  • 07:10
Breast Cancer Network Australia

Australian women denied knowledge of BREAST DENSITY and their increased breast cancer risk

11th February 2025 Fact: Approximately 10% of women have high breast density, which significantly increases the risk of developing breast cancer and impacts the effectiveness of detecting breast cancer through 2D mammography. Despite this, thousands of Australian women are being denied this important information due to the absence of national reporting standards and a lack of software in publicly funded screening services that can effectively measure breast density. Western Australia and South Australia routinely notify women of their breast density. Queensland is currently conducting trials, Victoria is expected to report breast density to all clients by early 2025 and New…

  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 11/02/2025
  • 06:05
Royal Australian College of GPs

RACGP launches plan for more GPs and lower fees: to halve out-of-pocket costs, increase bulk billing

The Royal Australian College of GPs is urging all political parties to support its plan to ensure access to affordable GP care for everyone in Australia. The plan will halve out-of-pocket costs, deliver 6.2 million more bulk billed consults each year, and get more specialist GPs training in communities. Australia’s peak body for general practice and GP training with over 50,000 members, the RACGP is launching its plan for accessible and affordable GP care at Parliament House today. Independently verified analysis shows it will: get the bulk billing rate back to 85% for those who need it most, creating 6.2…

  • Medical Health Aged Care
  • 11/02/2025
  • 01:11
AGFA HealthCare

An Incredible KLAS Triple-Award Win for AGFA HealthCare!

MORTSEL, BE / ACCESS Newswire / February 10, 2025 / AGFA HealthCare proudly celebrates a remarkable KLAS triple-win, securing two #1 Best in KLAS Awards for XERO® Viewer and VNA, alongside the KLAS Most Improved Software Product for 2025."To receive a KLAS Award is one of the most notable wins for AGFA HealthCare, and a testament to the hard work we invest into our flagship platform. More importantly, it reflects the trust and recognition from our customers. Their success is our success, and to receive two such awards is simply breathtaking." - Nathalie McCaughley, President, AGFA HealthCareThe Best in KLAS…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.