Invitation
Sexual and reproductive health clinicians working in England are invited to participate in research that aims to increase understanding of the role sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in obesity prevention pre-pregnancy. You may choose to participate by taking part in an online survey and/or through a telephone interview. Participation in this research is completely voluntary. The purpose of this information site is to support you to decide whether you wish to participate.
Study title
The implementation of NICE recommendations through Sexual and Reproductive Health services to improve healthy weight before pregnancy, a mixed-methods approach
Purpose of this research
Obesity is a major public health concern. It is associated with multiple poor health outcomes including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancers [13]. Prevalence of obesity is rising among pregnant women in the UK [2, 6, 14], with 1 in 5 now obese [1]. During pregnancy, obesity is associated with increased incidence of pregnancy complications requiring clinical intervention, in addition to increased risk of morbidity and mortality for mother and child [2, 4, 7].
In order to improve pregnancy outcomes, it is important women are identified and supported to reach and maintain a healthy weight before they become pregnant [2, 5]. Whilst there is a lack of research on interventions to improve weight pre-pregnancy within clinical practice [5], it is suggested that SRH services may have a role to play [2, 5].
NICE (2010) has produced guidelines for managing weight before, during and after pregnancy which identify contraceptive services as a group that should take action on advising women with a BMI of 30 or more on the health risks of obesity associated with pregnancy and on losing weight before they decide to become pregnant [9, 10, 11]. NICE (2017) also recommends BMI is measured as part of contraception assessment and that future plans for having children are discussed [8].
The aim of this research is to understand the extent that NICE recommendations to improve weight before pregnancy are implemented through open access, specialist SRH services in England, and what barriers and enablers exist with regards to their implementation.
In order to improve pregnancy outcomes, it is important women are identified and supported to reach and maintain a healthy weight before they become pregnant [2, 5]. Whilst there is a lack of research on interventions to improve weight pre-pregnancy within clinical practice [5], it is suggested that SRH services may have a role to play [2, 5].
NICE (2010) has produced guidelines for managing weight before, during and after pregnancy which identify contraceptive services as a group that should take action on advising women with a BMI of 30 or more on the health risks of obesity associated with pregnancy and on losing weight before they decide to become pregnant [9, 10, 11]. NICE (2017) also recommends BMI is measured as part of contraception assessment and that future plans for having children are discussed [8].
The aim of this research is to understand the extent that NICE recommendations to improve weight before pregnancy are implemented through open access, specialist SRH services in England, and what barriers and enablers exist with regards to their implementation.
Study timeframe
.The research is being conducted from 01 March 2018 until 12 September 2018.
The online survey will be available until the 24th May 2018. To access the survey click here: SRHobesitySurvey.
The online survey will be available until the 24th May 2018. To access the survey click here: SRHobesitySurvey.