PROTOCOL: Effects of preconception care and periconception interventions on maternal nutritional status and birth outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review

Preconception period is an ideal time to introduce interventions relating to nutrition and other lifestyle factors to promote health and for ensuring good pregnancy preparedness. Since 99% of all maternal and newborn deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs; World Health Organisation, ), early start of preconception care particularly for girls living in LMICs is very crucial. Because their pelvis has not yet grown large enough for the baby to pass through the birth canal, hence they have higher risk of obstructed labour, stillbirths; and their newborns are also more likely to be born prematurely, have low birth weight, or die in the first month of life (Gibbs, Wendt, Peters, & Hogue, ; Paranjothy, Broughton, Adappa, & Fone, ; World Health Organisation, ). The evidence further details that children born to teenage mothers tend to have poor health, poor cognitive development, behavioural problems and poor educational outcomes; they also have a high probability of becoming a teen parent themselves (Black et al., ). [...]it is important to encourage the use of contraceptives and educate the importance of planning pregnancy and delaying first pregnancy until the woman is at least 18 years of age which allows a woman's body to fully mature. Previous evidence has shown the benefits of delayed childbearing, specifically in adolescence, as adolescent pregnancy is known to be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, stillbirth, small-for-gestational age, neonatal mortality, and complications during labour and delivery (Haldre, Rahu, Karro, & Rahu, ; Paranjothy et al., ; World Health Organisation, ).