Awareness of the use of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects in a Mediterranean area (original) (raw)
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Maternal and Child Health Journal, 2011
Since the early 1990s, international recommendations have promoted folic acid supplementation during the periconception period as an effective way of preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the adoption of this recommendation remains insufficient. To assess the awareness and actual intake of folic acid among married Lebanese women aged 18-45 years, a crosssectional study was conducted among 600 women selected from all five administrative districts in Lebanon, using a multistage cluster sampling procedure. An anonymous questionnaire was completed which covered measures of knowledge and use of folate supplements, as well as demographic, socioeconomic and obstetrical factors. Sixty percent of surveyed women (60%; n = 360) had heard about folic acid. Doctors were the most frequent source of information (61.1%) but only 24.7% of women have been told of the correct period during which folic acid supplementation was useful. Overall, only 6.2% had taken folic acid tablets during the adequate period. Younger age, higher education level and stability/sufficiency of income appeared to be significant predictors of awareness among Lebanese women. Actual folic acid intake was significantly associated with younger age, higher number of pregnancies, planning the last pregnancy and having had that last one after 1990. In Lebanon, the level of folic acid awareness and adequate intake remain relatively low. Several approaches should be used to promote folic acid intake including awareness campaigns, and routine counseling by primary health care physicians on folic acid during preconception visits.
Prevention of Neural Tube Defects by Folic Acid Supplementation: A National Population-Based Study
Nutrients
Folic acid supplementation is recommended for neural tube defect prevention during pregnancy. We conducted an observational, retrospective national registry study to determine the rate of dispensing of periconceptional folic acid after prescription in a sample of French women representative of the general population. Our study population (n = 186,061) was a representative sample of the French population, recorded in the Health Data System database on pharmacy dispensing of medication and mandatory reporting of pregnancy. Between 2006 and 2016, 14.3% of pregnant women had a prescription for folic acid supplementation during the month preceding conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Of these prescriptions, 30.9% were issued before the start of pregnancy. This percentage was lower for first pregnancies. The rate of pharmacy dispensing during the preconception period increased progressively from 3.8% to 8.3% between 2006 and 2016. In France, the rate of pharmacy dispensing ...
Background: Childbearing woman needs to start the folic acid intake at least four weeks before conception and continue it throughout the first trimester of pregnancy to help with the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs). Hence, counseling and awareness by health care professionals influence strongly in order to overcome these burdensome issues to the women and their families. Objectives: To determine the impact of counseling on childbearing age Women for Prevention of Neural Tube Defects by Periconceptional Folic Acid Supplementation in Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive survey design was carried out to conduct this study in the Obstetrical Outpatient departments of local teaching Hospitals of Lahore. A total of 300 pregnant women were studied to see the impact of counseling of healthcare professionals regarding supplementation of folic acid in order to minimize the Neural Tube Defects. Nonprobability convenient sampling technique was used for the purpose. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and was analyzed by SPSS version 20. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. Results: The results signified that a major fraction of pregnant women 101 (33.6%) used to visit the healthcare professionals after elapsing the critical phase of organogenesis. Although the main source of provision of health-related information was found the health care professionals, it was also observed that only a few of pregnant women used to visit them. Furthermore, health care professionals used to provide counseling for folic acid use in the first trimester of pregnancy, but regarding supplementation of folic acid before pregnancy, no evident authentic information was provided to women of childbearing age. Conclusion: Findings of the study suggested that the health care professionals need to provide awareness at all the levels of health care regarding periconceptional folic acid supplementation. In addition, women should visit the professionals in the early antenatal period as well as before conception. CONTRIBUTION OF PAPER Birth defects related to folic acid deficiency are as preventable as polio and as a public health measure; equally urgent. Women not currently taking a multivitamin could be motivated to do so if advised by the health care professionals like nurses who provide them holistic care during their stay in hospital as well as community midwives, lady health workers can impart their role. In Pakistan, due to convenient access, women (primigravida and multigravida both) most likely prefer to take health care advice (After missing their first menstrual period) from community midwives, lady health care workers first before consulting a doctor or gynecologist. Therefore, counseling at primary health care level regarding folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy should be optimized to reduce the burden of neural tube defects in Pakistan and to
Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, 2013
Evidence from controlled trials suggests that ingestion of 0.4 mg of folic acid per day in the periconceptional period is effective in preventing neural tube defects (NTD). For this reason, most countries recommend that women planning pregnancy take folic acid supplements in the periconceptional period, and some countries even fortify stable foods with folic acid. Denmark exemplifies a country with a relatively conservative attitude with respect to taking action in these matters. In 1999, a national information campaign was launched that recommended women planning pregnancy take 0.4 mg of folic acid periconceptionally, but with the moderation that women who eat a healthy diet do not need to take folic acid supplement. The campaign was repeated during 2001. The results of the latter campaign were evaluated by using data from a national survey among pregnant women conducted simultaneously with the campaign by the Danish National Birth Cohort. An increase in the proportion of folic acid users took place concomitantly with the launching of the information events, but the increase was limited. Among women who did not plan their pregnancy, a small proportion had taken folic acid supplements periconceptionally, and this proportion did not change concomitantly with the campaign. Young age and low education were factors associated with low likelihood of taking folic acid. It seems that different and more efficient actions are needed if a more substantial proportion of Danish women and their fetuses are going to benefit from the knowledge that folic acid supplementation in the periconceptional period can prevent NTD.
Aim The aim of the study was to measure awareness of pregnant women about folic acid supplementation during pregnancy to reduce neural tube defects. Methods A prospective observational cross sectional study was conducted for a period of six months. The study included all the women who are pregnant and who are planned to be pregnant in the study site after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Data was collected with the help of a self-prepared questionnaire and interview. Statistical analysis was performed to test the differences between variables by using Chi square analysis. The value of p<0.05 was considered as significant level. Results The present study was conducted on 200 pregnant women to assess their knowledge regarding folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. The results of our study revealed that 8.5% with high level of knowledge, 32% with intermediate level, and 38.5% with low level knowledge, and 21% with no knowledge. There was no association between the knowledge scores and the socio demographic variables like level of education, Gestational age, number of previous pregnancies. Pregnant women with a past history of previous pregnancies had poor knowledge when compared with the present first pregnant women. Conclusion Awareness of folic acid role and its requirements during pregnancy is low among interviewed women. There is a need to increase the awareness of the importance of folic acid among females of childbearing age. The different strategies are required to elevate the knowledge about folic acid among the women in reproductive age and provide them with some information about the benefits of this supplement. Further counseling programs would increase the level of awareness among this group and increase the consumption of folic acid in the correct time to prevent Neural tube defects.
Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de santé publique
Daily consumption of supplements containing 400 micrograms of folic acid in the periconception period may reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) by as much as 70%. However, despite explicit recommendations, folic acid consumption among women likely to become pregnant remains low. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate women's knowledge and beliefs with regard to folic acid; to estimate the frequency of vitamin supplement consumption; and to identify its determinants during the periconception period. In 1999-2000, a questionnaire was completed by 1,240 pregnant women in 10 Quebec hospitals. Seventy percent of the respondents were aware of the preventive role of folic acid but only 25% had taken the recommended dose of supplements during the periconception period. Supplement consumption is associated with the pregnancy planning intensity score (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.11), knowledge score (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07-1.16) and belief in the usefulness of supplements (OR...
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2012
To assess the knowledge and practice of urban Iranian pregnant women regarding periconceptional folic acid intake for neural tube defect (NTD) prevention. The population-based study was done on 676 primiparous women in an urban area in Golestan province in northern Iran from June to November, 2008. A questionnaire was completed by the subjects regarding their knowledge of folic acid. Questionnaires were administered to women who were seeking routine antenatal care at health centres, private gynaecological clinic and the Dezyani Gynaecologic and Obstetric Hospital. Questions covered knowledge and use of folic acid supplements and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Out of the 676 women surveyed, 96.2% reported that they heard of folate. Of these, only 27.6% knew that folate was something important in the prevention of neural tube defects. Overall, 20.12% of the total women took folic acid during periconceptional period. The most common information sources on folate were he...
Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences, 2013
Background: In the precent study, firm evidences indicate that folic acid supplementation during the peri-conceptional period reduces the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects. Aim: To ascertain the level of awareness about folic acid, its use during peri-conceptional period and the predictive factors of folic acid awareness among pregnant women in our setting. Subjects and Methods: Confidential, anonymous questionnaires were administered to consecutive 543 pregnant women seeking routine antenatal care at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos between January and June 2012. Questions included enquiry on their demographic features, obstetric history, pregnancy intention, awareness and intake of folic acid during the peri-conceptional period, and knowledge of its natural sources. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictive factors of folic acid awareness were then performed. Results: Out of 543 pregnant women surveyed, 64.6% (351/543) reported that they were aware of folic acid as a vitamin supplement. However, only 7.4% (26/351) consistently took the vitamin during the protective periconceptional period. The common sources of information about folic acid were health workers (68.5%) and the media (14.6%). Only 26.5% (93/351) of them could correctly identify a natural source of food rich in folic acid. Multivariate logistic regression showed that maternal age >30 years (P=0.01) and higher educational status (P=0.001) were predictive factors for folic acid awareness. Conclusion: Folic acid awareness as a vitamin supplement was relatively high among the women surveyed but its intake during peri-conceptional period was worryingly low. Antenatal and Population health educational strategies and fortification of staple foods with folic acid may improve its intake among women of child-bearing age in our setting.
Neural tube defects are major cause of infant mortality and disability. Its occurrence has been linked to folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. Awareness of this relationship is significant to adopt appropriate measures to prevent them. The study was carried out to assess the level of this awareness among reproductive-age female of Karachi .The survey based study were designed to assess respondent’s knowledge about folic acid and neural tube defects. Sample (500) was divided into two groups. Group A belong to without any history of NTD while Group B belonged to positive family history of NTD. Both group comprised of 250 respondents. The result shows that the level of awareness about the role of FA in prevention of neural NTD in Group B was high as compare to Group A. There was close association between knowledge of FA and socio demographic variables. Level of awareness about the role of FA in prevention of neural NTD among group A was low as compare to group B. There is need to enhance awareness to ensure that populations at risk benefit from research. Key words: neural tube defect. Folic acid, Folic acid deficiency