Maha Abd Al -Jalil Alnaseri, Ahmed Arnaoty
Perinatal Journal - 2026;34(1):23-36
Maternal and neonatal health outcomes remain a major concern in low - and middle -income countries, including Iraq, where gaps in preventive services persist. The effect of structured precon ception counseling on maternal and fetal outcomes was assessed in this study among women who visited a private primary -care clinic in Baghdad's Dora district. A prospective cohort of 240 women of reproductive age was enrolled and followed throu gh pregnancy , with outcomes compared to a reference group of 120 women who did not receive counseling. The in - tarnation consisted of standardized sessions addressing nutrition, folic acid supplementation, chronic disease management, lifestyle modification, vaccinatio n, and reproductive planning. Results showed that counseling was associated with significant reductions in gestational dia - betes (11.7% vs. 18.3%), hypertensive disorders (13.3% vs. 20.8%), and anemia (20.4% vs. 29.2%). Neonatal outcomes were also improve d, with reduced birth weight (15.8% vs. 24.2 %) and preterm birth rates (12.9% vs. 21.7%). Adherence to counseling independently decreased the risk of preterm birth (AOR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33 -0.91) and gestational diabetes (AOR= 0.62; 95% CI: 0.40 -0.95), according to multivariate analysis. These findings demonstrate that structured preconception counseling in a primary -care setting can significantly improve maternal and neonatal outcomes and should be integrated into Iraq's healthcare system to strengthen maternal and child health strategies.
