Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Emergence of Preconception Care: 1980-2010

SES-1029087 Peter ConradMiranda WaggonerBrandeis UniversityThis study examined the emergence，trajectory，and social implications of preconception care within the maternal and child health field since 20世纪80年代，在这十年中，这个概念在美国健康竞技场中找到了牵引力。疾病控制中心（CDC）将孕前保健确定为一项关键的公共卫生措施，并将其定义为一套针对产前干预无法预防的不良妊娠结局的策略。孕前健康战略标志着与生殖和妇女有关的医学知识和医学类别的潜在重新制定和重组？的卫生服务。本文讨论的问题是如何以及为什么孕前健康策略出现时，他们做的，如何医疗管辖权的特点是在建设的孕前保健议程，以及如何孕前保健转变和形状的社会意义的医疗干预，妇女？的身体和医疗风险。为了回答这些问题，深入访谈将进行有针对性的样本的孕产妇和儿童保健专业人员参与选择专家小组对孕前保健。此外，档案数据，文件和文献的孕前保健将进行分析。这种方法将阐明的过程中，一个特定的健康策略出现随着时间的推移，其意义的医学化理论，职业界限，和概念化的妇女？的生殖生活。更广泛的影响这篇论文将有助于更好地了解当代妇女的变化动态？的医疗保健和卫生政策。它将描述医疗和公共卫生专业人员如何思考他们的工作对妇女的影响？的生殖行为，身体和社会角色。这项研究的结果还将涉及决策和生殖保健方面更广泛的社会和伦理问题。最后，通过阐明针对美国婴儿死亡率、早产和低出生体重问题的孕前策略的潜在社会影响，这项工作将涉及与人口健康差距有关的孕前健康战略。

SES-1029087Peter ConradMiranda WaggonerBrandeis UniversityThis study examines the emergence, trajectory, and social implications of preconception care within the maternal and child health field since the 1980s, the decade in which the concept found traction in the American health arena. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) identifies preconception care as a critical public health measure and defines it as a set of strategies that target adverse pregnancy outcomes not preventable by prenatal interventions. Preconception health strategies signal a potential reformulation and reorganization of medical knowledge and medical categories related to reproduction and women?s health services. This dissertation addresses the questions of how and why preconception health strategies emerged when they did, how medical jurisdiction was characterized in the construction of the preconception care agenda, and how preconception care shifts and shapes social meanings of medical intervention, women?s bodies, and medical risk. To answer these questions, in-depth interviews will be conducted with a purposive sample of maternal and child health professionals involved in select expert panels on preconception care. Additionally, archival data, documents, and literature on preconception care will be analyzed. This approach will elucidate the process by which a particular health strategy emerges over time and its significance for medicalization theory, occupational boundaries, and conceptualizations of women?s reproductive lives.Broader ImpactsThis dissertation will contribute to a better understanding of the changing dynamics of contemporary women?s health care and health policy. It will describe how medical and public health professionals think through the implications of their work for women?s reproductive behaviors, bodies, and social roles. This study's findings will also engage broader social and ethical concerns around policymaking and reproductive care. Finally, by illuminating the potential social impact of preconception strategies that target problems of infant mortality, preterm birth, and low birthweight in the U.S., this work will address preconception health strategies in relation to population health disparities.