Folic Acid Recommendations Survey: The Current Practices of Connecticut Women's Health Care Providers

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the current practices of women's health care providers with regard to folic acid knowledge and recommendations. Two-hundred-twenty obstetrician/gynecologists and certified nurse-midwives participated by completing questionnaires.A gap between the belief that folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects [NTDs] and the lack of widespread supplementation recommendations was revealed. Results showed that only 45% percent of providers recommend supplementation to all female patients. Sixty percent recommend supplementation to women with a previous NTD-affected pregnancy.Providers were also unclear about the level of supplementation to recommend. Only 60% percent recommend 0.4 milligrams (mg) of folic acid to women without a previous NTD-affected pregnancy and 48% recommend 4mg for women with a previous NTD-affected pregnancy.Fifty-nine percent of providers knew that grain products recently became fortified with folic acid. Eighty-nine percent knew that spinach is high in folate while only 60% percent knew that kidney beans are a good source.The overall results reveal a need to educate women's health care providers about folic acid in the areas of: 1) periconceptional intake recommendations; 2) optimal level of supplementation; 3) knowledge of food fortification; and 4) best sources of food folates.