Preconception Care Practice among Health Professionals and Mothers in Wolaita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Thematic Qualitative Analysis

Background Preconception care is often overlooked by women of reproductive age, with less than one-third seeking such care and this is particularly prevalent in low-income countries. To shed light on this issue, a study was conducted in Wolaita Sodo town to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of preconception care among health professionals and mothers. Methods The study employed a descriptive phenomenological qualitative research design. Participants in the twelve in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Interview guide was used to collect the data. The interview continued until information saturation was reached. Transcripts were imported into NVivo 14 software to code and facilitate the analysis. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the identified themes and subthemes with inductive qualitative data analysis method. Results The study revealed that inadequate knowledge and practice of preconception care exists among health professionals and mothers. To enable preconception service uptake, it is essential to improve the knowledge and awareness of health professionals and mothers. Although the healthcare providers and community members have a positive attitude toward the service, there is no experience in providing the service by the health professionals for the community unless needed in special conditions. Conclusion The study also identified several barriers to providing preconception care, including lack of awareness, inadequate knowledge, and limited resources. To implement preconception care effectively, there is a need to create awareness among healthcare providers and the community about the importance of preconception care and its benefits.