Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41583067›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in reproductive health2025

Factors influencing preconception care awareness and knowledge among women in Africa: a systematic review.

Patience Fakornam Doe, Amidu Alhassan, Boahemaa Adu Otchere, Frank Offei Odonkor, Isaac Aidoo Erzuah, Yvonne Dorothy Mintah, Hilda Kessewah Koranteng, Mustapha Amoadu

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in reproductive health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Patience Fakornam DoeDepartment of Public Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Amidu AlhassanDepartment of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Boahemaa Adu OtchereDepartment of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Frank Offei OdonkorDepartment of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Isaac Aidoo ErzuahSchool of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Yvonne Dorothy MintahDepartment of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Hilda Kessewah KorantengDepartment of Adult Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Mustapha AmoaduBiomedical and Clinical Research Centre, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Preconception care (PCC) plays a critical role in enhancing maternal and neonatal health by addressing risk factors before pregnancy. Most existing reviews focus on PCC outcomes such as utilization with limited attention to factors influencing PCC awareness and knowledge. This review addressed this gap by synthesizing evidence on PCC awareness and knowledge levels and by examining the associated risk and protective factors among women in Africa. Methods: The review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five main databases (PubMed Central, African Journals Online, Web of Science, Scopus, and Journal Storage) were searched in March 2025, and 27 articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Data were analyzed using a narrative review approach to evaluate awareness and knowledge levels, as well as the risk and protective factors influencing PCC. Results: Awareness levels of PCC ranged from 5.9% in Ethiopia to 91% in Tanzania, while knowledge levels varied from 11% in Sudan to 70% in Tanzania. Low awareness and knowledge were associated with risk factors such as low education, poor socioeconomic status, limited healthcare access, lack of antenatal care (ANC), and adverse pregnancy histories. Protective factors contributing to higher PCC awareness and knowledge included higher educational attainment, greater economic stability, more frequent ANC visits, greater media exposure, and improved access to counseling and support services. Conclusion: Despite encouraging progress in some regions, significant gaps in PCC awareness and knowledge remain across African countries, particularly in low-resource settings. Bridging these gaps will require context-specific educational strategies, policy support, and expanded access to quality healthcare services tailored to African health systems. Systematic Review Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/VPWZG.

Indexed as

knowledgematernal healthpreconception careprotective factorsrisk factors

Identifiers

PMID41583067
PMCPMC12827621

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.