Abstract
BackgroundTo study the knowledge of a large city population on preconception folic acid supplementation and intention to seek for preconception care within an urban perinatal health program.MethodsCross-sectional surveys run in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 2007 and annually from 2009 to 2014. A random sample of residents aged between 16 and 85 years was taken each year from the municipal population register. Bivariate analysis, interaction analysis, trend analysis and logistic regression were performed.ResultsKnowledge on preconceptional folic acid supplementation significantly improved (+20 %) between 2007 and 2009, and the intention to consult a GP or midwife in the preconception period significantly increased (+53 %) from 2007 to 2012. Logistic regression analyses showed that low socio-economic status was significantly associated with low preconceptional folic acid knowledge, but with higher intention to seek out preconception care. An interaction effect was found between educational level and ethnicity, showing that the higher the educational level the lower the gap of level of knowledge between the different ethnic groups.ConclusionDespite campaigns about folic acid supplementation knowledge on this supplement remains low. The intention amongst men and women to seek out preconception care is still insufficient. Structural interventions to increase and maintain awareness on folic acid supplementation, especially among high-risk groups, are needed.
Highlights
To study the knowledge of a large city population on preconception folic acid supplementation and intention to seek for preconception care within an urban perinatal health program
A wide range of preconception risk factors are found to be associated with adverse foetal outcomes, and many of these risk factors are amenable to prevention [1, 2]
The present study demonstrates that correct knowledge concerning both folic acid (FA) supplementation (30.7 % in 2007 vs. 36.8 % in 2009) and the need for PCC consultation before pregnancy (16.1 % in 2007 vs. 24.6 % in 2012) significantly increased citywide during the study years
Summary
To study the knowledge of a large city population on preconception folic acid supplementation and intention to seek for preconception care within an urban perinatal health program. PCC is defined as the set of preventive interventions targeted at women of reproductive age and their partners to improve pregnancy outcomes. A wide range of preconception risk factors are found to be associated with adverse foetal outcomes, and many of these risk factors are amenable to prevention [1, 2]. A population study showed that 98 % of couples hoping to have a child exhibit at least one risk factor amenable for intervention, justifying individual counselling [4]. Lack of knowledge about common preconception risk factors seems to be one of the critical factors hindering the widespread application of PCC: in a population study in Rotterdam half of the nonpregnant study population (n = 631) were unaware of the
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