An Evaluation of Canadian Online Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Health Promotion

Abstract

Background: Health promotion interventions that target individuals at the preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum phases of reproductive life can optimize fertility and reproductive health, improve pregnancy outcomes, assist in pregnancy- and health-related decision making, and enhance women+ (all genders that can gestate a fetus), fetal, and infant health. Methodology: Online promotion of mental and reproductive health (lifestyle and environmental health risk information) content provided by the Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal) and select non-government organizations (NGO) was evaluated to determine the extent to which comprehensive, audience-specific, and evidence-based content is available in the context of reproduction and pregnancy. Results: Women+-specific health promotion on pregnancy-related information, particularly lifestyle health topics, was well supported by government agencies and NGOs in our sample. However, promotion of content related to mental and environmental health, as well as information pertaining to the preconception and postpartum period, was inconsistent. For men+ (all genders that produce sperm) and partners, there were major inconsistencies and information gaps throughout the evaluated mental and reproductive health promotion for each reproductive stage and across topics. The federal government, but rarely other agencies, presented reproductive health content with attributed scientific sources. Conclusion: Mental and reproductive health promotion in Canada is generally targeted to women+ throughout the reproductive lifespan, particularly during pregnancy, with noticeable discrepancies in partner-specific content. In addition to further emphasizing woman+-specific content, online health promotion needs to better recognize and support male+- and partner-focused mental and reproductive health promotion in the context of reproduction.