Use of folic acid among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Al-Hejrah primary health care center, Makkah Al-Mokarramah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: In KSA, there was an apparent decline in the incidence of NTDs after the folic acid flour fortification. However, the incidence is still high, and usually associated with serious morbidity. Aims & Objective: To assess the level of knowledge about folic acid supplements and its associated factors as well as to estimate the prevalence folic acid intake during first trimester of pregnancy among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Al-Hejrah primary health care center, Makkah Al-Mokarramah, 2012. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional analytic study included a systematic random sample of pregnant women who attended Al-Hejrah primary health care center, Makkah at the time of conducting the study in 2012. An interview Arabic questionnaire to assess maternal knowledge and use of folic acid was prepared by the researcher and revised by supervisor. Validation during pilot study was assaulted. It is consists of 17 questions covering 2 parts; socio demographic features and general knowledge of folic acid with its coexisting conditions. Results: The study included 66 pregnant women. Their age ranged between 18 and 41 years with a mean of 29±6.7 years. All were Saudi. Among more than two-thirds of them (69.7%), physician was the source of information followed by internet (33.4%) and TV (19.7%). Almost two-thirds (65.2%) of participated pregnant women had sufficient knowledge about the importance of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Pregnant women who read about folic acid and those having more sources of information about importance of folic acid intake during pregnancy had sufficient knowledge about it. The majority of pregnant women had taken folic acid during pregnancy (81.8%). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the level of knowledge about folic acid and its importance during pregnancy among pregnant women attended Al-Hejrah primary health care center are satisfactory. However, additional measures directed at understanding folic acid usefulness and promoting folic acid awareness and consumption among all non-pregnant Saudi women of childbearing age are warranted.