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Preconceptional family health evaluation: A regional education program for family planning clients and health professionals
Author(s) -
Lea Dale H.,
Gardiner Gale B.,
Guttmacher Alan E.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1007/bf00961586
Subject(s) - genetic counseling , medicine , family planning , family medicine , public health , family health , health education , health professionals , nursing , environmental health , health care , population , political science , genetics , law , research methodology , biology
The Preconceptional Family Health Evaluation Program was a regional project developed and funded for 2 years by the New England Regional Genetics Group (NERGG) to educate family planning health professionals about genetics, and to offer family planning clients preconceptional identification of genetic and environmental exposure risks. To meet these goals, genetic education was provided on a regional basis to 45 family planning professionals. A self‐administered family health risk questionnaire adaptable to individual family planning settings was developed. Five hundred and twenty‐nine family planning clients voluntarily completed the questionnaire. Cigarette smoking (35%) and alcohol use (57%) were two major categories of risks identified. The Preconceptional Family Health Evaluation Program was well received by all participants and provided an effective means for regional education of family planning health professionals. As a result of the program, state program planners, clinical genetics services, and family planning health professionals developed a strong relationship that will serve future educational and genetic risk screening efforts .