Factors influencing participation of reproductive-age patients in preconceptional screening: analysis of sociological survey data

BACKGROUND: Hereditary monogenic diseases are a significant medical and social problem that burdens the healthcare system and affects thousands of families worldwide. Preconception screening is a key element in the primary prevention of these pathologies. Despite its proven clinical significance, public awareness about the benefits of pre-pregnancy training, including preconception screening, remains unsatisfactory. According to the World Health Organization data (2023), only 30–40% of couples planning a pregnancy undergo a comprehensive examination before conception.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess patients’ knowledge about preconception screening options.

METHODS: This cross-sectional comprehensive study was conducted in the field of sociology of medicine, in which patients from St. Petersburg, Russia participated on a voluntary and anonymous basis. We developed a 24-question survey questionnaire that was administered online using a Google Form.

RESULTS: The study involved 209 respondents of different age groups. The questionnaire was asked to be filled out by both individual female patients at the reception and couples who attended the appointment together. The main factors contributing to the low appeal of women of reproductive age regarding preconception screening are a lack of awareness of the benefits of this type of pre-pregnancy training, the perception of preconception screening as an unnecessarily expensive diagnostic procedure, and organizational barriers, including the lack of specialized programs at the primary healthcare level.

CONCLUSION: To expand preconception screening coverage, it is advisable to raise patient awareness, train specialists in this field, and develop clinical guidelines, examination protocols, and algorithms for managing identified risk factors. The implementation of these measures will reduce the incidence of pregnancy complications, improve newborn health outcomes, and optimize healthcare costs. Further research should be aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of various preconception counseling models, depending on regional characteristics and sociodemographic groups.