3.1: Introduction
Health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and well-person care are essential components of comprehensive health care for persons assigned female at birth (AFAB) and those identifying as female. These persons experience unique and specific physical and mental health issues at various stages and events in their lives, and promoting their well-being requires a comprehensive approach that includes health education, the promotion of good nutrition and healthy self-care practices, annual checkups, preventive screenings and immunizations, contraception counseling, preconception care, perinatal care, and menopause management. By prioritizing these goals, health-care professionals and policymakers can improve overall health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and empower these persons to take control of their health. This chapter aims to provide insights and strategies for obstetric and gynecologic nurses in their critical role in promoting their patients’ health and well-being throughout the lifespan.