Table 2 Summary of the suggested interventions during the preconception period by different stakeholder groups who were interviewed between September 2021-January 2022

Poshan Abhiyaan Program [13]

Poshan Abhiyaan can be extended to provide nutrition education and reproductive health counselling awareness before pregnancy through:

1. Counselling initiatives for newly married couples and awareness for couples and families through Primary Health Centre teams (including Health and Wellness Centres) and frontline workers

2. Awareness programs for other key community stakeholders such as Gram Panchayat members and religious leaders

3. Awareness programs for adolescents on preconception care, which can be a multi-department effort

Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) and Village Health and Nutrition

Day (VHND)

VHSNC and VHND meetings can be leveraged for preconception care discussions

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) [14]

The PMSMA camps, which are scheduled every month, can include a

preconception care concept

Anaemia Mukt Bharat program under the National Health Mission [15]

Micronutrient supplementation of iron and folic acid provided as part of the anemia mukt Bharat program for women of reproductive age can be ensured for women planning to conceive

Mathrupoorna Scheme [16]

The hot cooked meal provided to pregnant and lactating women through the existing system of Anganwadi Centers as part of the Mathrupoorna Scheme can be extended to undernourished women planning to conceive.

Potential new interventions targeting preconception nutrition care planning

New interventions

Activity

Screening & Management

1. Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI)

2. Hb estimation for anaemia prevention and treatment

3. Testing for diabetes, thyroid disorders, hypertension other biochemical estimations

4. Regular follow-up - health check-ups for weight and underlying condition management