Folic Acid Awareness Research Articles

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors with Unawareness of Folic Acid Benefits Prior to Pregnancy: Results From Canadian Community Health Survey

Recent national studies on awareness of folic acid (FA) prior to pregnancy among Canadian women are lacking. Using the 2017–2018 Canadian Community Health Survey, we aimed to estimate prevalence and risk factors associated with Canadian women who reported they were unaware of the benefits of FA supplementation before pregnancy. Prevalence of unawareness of FA was 22.1%. Lower education, lack of a health care provider, low household income, and an immigrant background were associated with greater odds of unawareness of the benefits of FA supplementation. Persistent associations with measures of social disadvantage and social determinants of health emphasize the need for new targeted public health campaigns.

Assessment of knowledge, and practices of urban women towards folic acid fortified maize meal in Zimbabwe

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common birth defects in humans and are associated with high rates of neonatal mortality, morbidity, disability, psychological and economic costs. Roughly 200,000 neonates are born with NTDs in low- and middle-income countries. To reduce the risks associated with NTDs, pregnant women are recommended to supplement their diets with folate tablets or to consume foods fortified with folic acid. Despite the introduction of a mandatory fortification program of maize meal with folic acid, in Zimbabwe, there is a paucity of literature about the perceptions of individuals towards fortified foods, as well as the storage and processing practices of fortified maize meal. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, as well as, storage and processing practices of folic acid-fortified maize meal in urban poor women. Data on knowledge and practices on fortified maize was gathered using a structured questionnaire from 630 women of childbearing age from low-income suburbs in Kwekwe town, Zimbabwe. The results showed that a paltry 26.3% of the respondents knew about folic acid, 22.5% knew about the effects of folic acid deficiency, 13.8% knew foodstuffs containing folic acid, 4% knew about food fortification and 35.6% had bought and used folic acid fortified maize meal before. Availability and accessibility were the main drivers to purchasing fortified maize meal (90%). There was no significant relationship (p < 0.05) between age and folic acid knowledge as well as between level of education and folic acid knowledge. Furthermore, the result indicates that the households were engaged in poor storage practices of the folic acid fortified maize meal. There was a significant relationship between the level of education and knowledge about food fortification. In conclusion, urban women's knowledge regarding folic acid and fortified maize meal is very low in Zimbabwe and households also store the folic acid fortified maize meal under conditions that speed deterioration of the folic acid. Folic acid awareness campaigns are recommended for people to benefit from the government of Zimbabwe's fortification programme. Key words: Neural tube defects, maize, folate, deficiency, fortification, women

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Lack of Folic Acid Awareness Among Canadian Mothers: Results from Canadian Community Health Survey 2017/18

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Lack of Folic Acid Awareness Among Canadian Mothers: Results from Canadian Community Health Survey 2017/18

Knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age living in a peri-urban community in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey.

Folic acid, a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis and maintenance, making it particularly significant during reproduction. Its well-known ability to reduce the risk of congenital anomalies during the periconceptional period underscores its importance. The increased requirement for folate during pregnancy and lactation is essential to support the physiological changes of the mother and ensure optimal growth and development of the foetus and offspring. This study assessed the knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid among pregnant and lactating women of reproductive age residing in Dodowa in the Shai Osu-Doku District, Accra, Ghana. The study was a cross-sectional design that involved 388 randomly selected participants (97 pregnant and 291 lactating women). Structured questionnaires were administered to gather information on the socioeconomic demographic characteristics, knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid of the participants. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square analysis tests and are presented as frequencies and percentages, means, standard deviations, bar graphs, and pie charts. The significance of the results was determined at a 95% confidence interval. The mean age of the participants was 31 ± 5.0 years. Among the study participants, 46.1% demonstrated knowledge of folic acid deficiency, while approximately 68.3% had a high awareness of folic acid supplementation. Approximately 75% of the participants indicated that they had not used folic acid supplements within the week, and 15.5% reported consuming folic acid-fortified food per week. The women exhibited high awareness but poor knowledge regarding the usage of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation. Consequently, this lack of knowledge influenced the low use of folic acid supplements and low intake of folate-rich foods among pregnant and lactating mothers.

Spina Bifida Prevention: A Narrative Review of Folic Acid Supplements for Childbearing Age Women.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are malformations that occur during embryonic development, and they account for most central nervous system birth anomalies. Genetic and environmental factors have been shown to play a role in the etiology of NTDs. The different types of NTDs are classified according to anatomic location and severity of the defect, with most of the neural axis anomalies occurring in the caudal spinal or cranial areas. Spina bifida is a type of NTD that is characterized by an opening in the vertebral arch, and the level of severity is determined by the extent to which the neural tissue protrudes through the opened arch(es). Prevention of NTDs by administration of folic acid has been studied and described in the literature, yet there are approximately 300,000 cases of NTDs that occur annually, with 88,000 deaths occurring per year worldwide. A daily intake of at least 400 μg of folic acid is recommended especially for women of childbearing age. To provide the benefits of folic acid, prenatal vitamins are recommended in pregnancy, and many countries have been fortifying foods such as cereal grain products with folic acid; however, not all countries have instituted folic acid fortification programs. The present investigation includes a description of the pharmacology of folic acid, neural tube formation, defects such as spina bifida, and the relevance of folic acid to developing spina bifida. Women's knowledge and awareness of folic acid regarding its importance in the prevention of spina bifida is a major factor in reducing incidence worldwide.

Awareness of Periconceptional use of Folic Acid to Prevent Neural Tube Defects in Young Females of Dakshina Kannada Region, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) are one of the common congenital anomalies leading to miscarriages and serious disabilities in newborns. NTDs are the second most common type of birth defects. Even though the aetiology of NTDs is multifactorial, Folic Acid (FA) deficiency is the most common cause. There are limited Indian studies on awareness of FA usage in the general public. Aim: To assess the awareness and usage of FA to prevent NTDs in young ladies of Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada (DK) district, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: It was a community-based crosssectional study conducted at Father Muller Medical College in Dakshina Kannada district, Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada (DK) district, Karnataka, India from August 2023 to October 2023. A total of 300 young Indian females aged 18-35 years, residing in the study district, were randomly chosen as participants. Data were collected by an interviewer using a semistructured questionnaire with two components. Part 1 focused on sociodemographic details, while Part 2 gathered information on the awareness of FA supplements, dietary sources of FA, the best time, and dosage of FA supplements to prevent NTDs. Descriptive analysis of the data was done. Results: The study included 90 married and 210 unmarried females. The average age of the participants was 23.7±5.7 years. The study results observed that only 103 (34%) of the participants had heard about FA supplements. A total of 240 (80%) of them said they were not aware of the preferred time for FA. Only 9 (3%) females could mention the correct dose of FA. Conclusion: The study results indicate a gross lack of awareness about FA supplements to prevent NTDs in the general population of the region.

Awareness of Periconceptional Folic Acid in Parents of Children Affected by Spina Bifida - A Pilot Study.

Spina bifida is a congenital malformation involving an open vertebral column resulting from failure in neural tube closure. It is among the most frequently occurring birth defects, observed in 1-3 cases per 1,000 live births worldwide. Conventionally requiring surgical repair, it can cause severe neurologic and musculoskeletal complications. However, consumption of prophylactic folic acid in mothers, at least 3 months before to 12 weeks after conception (periconceptional) has been shown to reduce the incidence of spina bifida by approximately 75%. This makes ascertaining parental understanding of such benefits critical. Therefore, this study provides baseline information on the awareness of periconceptional folic acid among parents whose children previously underwent surgical repair of spina bifida defects. The study subjects constituted 80 parents whose biological children had undergone surgical repair of spina bifida defects from 2014 to 2021 at a large paediatric tertiary care centre in South India. Upon providing informed consent, the subjects answered a cross-sectional telephonic survey containing 21 questions aimed at exposing their understanding of folic acid and its association with spina bifida. None of the mothers had consumed folic acid before conception. However, 75% of them had consumed it as prescribed by their obstetrician during the first trimester of pregnancy. Finally, only 35% of them were aware of its role in preventing spina bifida. The awareness of periconceptional folic acid and its preventive role in spina bifida was low amongst parents whose children were once treated for same congenital abnormality.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Preconceptional Folic Acid supplementation among pregnant women (18-45years) attending antenatal clinic in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Background: Folate deficiency is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes and is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies in women, especially those of reproductive age. Folic acid intake prior to, and during, the first months of pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects. Maternal folate status has been associated with other adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, malformations (orofacial clefts, Neural tube defects, anencephaly and encephalocele resulting from incomplete neural tube closure during early embryogenesis), spontaneous abortion, fetal death, fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery. Methods: The study embraced a cross-sectional study that assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of preconceptional folic acid supplementation among pregnant women (18-45years) attending antenatal clinic in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. 152 women attending antenatal clinics in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 21 for frequency and percentage at P < 0.05 significance level. Results: 98.7% of the participants had heard about folic acid, but an analysis of data shows that 26.6% of them knew that folic acid is a vitamin. In addition, very few (29.6%) knew that folic acid could prevent neural tube defects. The main source of information about folic acid supplementation among the surveyed women were through the health workers. Incidence of at least one episode of adverse pregnancy outcome was noted in about 35.5% of the population under study though a majority indicated the form for their loss were miscarriage and stillbirth. Finding showed that 37.5% of the respondent claimed to have used folic acid before pregnancy while 40.1% of the women in this study were aware of the right time to start using folic acid. 46% of the women took folic acid during Antenatal care and their reason were attributed to late presentation for antenatal care, delayed prescription of the folic acid for women during pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy while others claimed they are getting enough folate from food. Approximately 40.8% of the respondents had started supplementation on antenatal booking and from analysis of data on the preferred/normal booking time of the respondents it shows that a high percentage of them attended antenatal from the third month of pregnancy this shows that the majority of the respondents started supplementation too late which is inconsistent with the ideal time to start folic acid supplementation in prevention of neural tube defect. In this study it has been revealed that 48% of the respondents could identify green leafy vegetable as the only source of folate in local foods and 0.7% could identify other food sources like legumes and fruits as sources of folate. Conclusion: There is a low overall level of awareness of folic acid among pregnant women including lack of understanding of its natural sources, usefulness in preventing Neural Tube Defects and preconceptional intake recommendation. Health education regarding the preconceptional use of folic acid among women of reproductive age is recommended.

Level of Knowledge and Awareness of Female Undergraduate Students and Determinants of Knowledge of Folic Acid and Supplementation.

Background and Objectives: Folic acid (FA) is a necessary ingredient for numerous bodily activities including pregnancy. Because of this, women should have knowledge and awareness of the health benefits of FA supplementation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the level of knowledge on the importance of FA and determine associated factors for knowledge among female college students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire between January 2020 and February 2021 among female college students aged 17 to 26 years old. The questionnaire adapted with permission from Alnaami et al. included questions on the demographic profile of the participants as well as questions related to their knowledge and awareness of FA, FA supplementation, the importance of supplementation and their sources of knowledge of FA. Results: A total of 437 female undergraduate students participated in the study, 285 (65.2%) of whom were from the non-health colleges and 152 (34.8%) from the health colleges. The majority of participants were between ages 17 and 21 years old (n = 361, 82.6%). Half of the respondents were in their 3rd and 4th year of study (n = 122, 50.8%), 138 respondents (31.6%) were married, and 111 of these married women (80.4%) had children. There were 266 respondents (61.0%) who had heard and had knowledge of FA, 241 (55.3%) knew of FA timing of intake, 243 (55.7%) of FA duration of intake and 362 (83.0%) knew of the diseases prevented by FA supplementation. Linear regression analysis showed that being in the health college (B = 1.464, t = 11.37, p < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.211, 1.717) and a higher educational year level (B = 0.139, t = 2.442, p = 0.015, 95% CI = 0.027, 0.251) were the significant predictors of knowledge of FA. Conclusions: Knowledge of FA and FA supplementation was low at 61% considering that our study population were college students. Being enrolled in a health college and in a higher educational year level were significant positive correlates of higher knowledge of FA and FA supplementation. Despite this, there exists a gap of information regarding FA and FA supplementation particularly among single women and college educated women in the early years of their college life as well as those in non-health colleges.

Knowledge of Folic Acid Supplementation among Pregnant Women at a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Background: Folic acid is an essential water-soluble vitamin that cannot be synthesized in the human body and so its major source is from diet. It plays an important role in embryonic development. Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women results in megaloblastic anaemia, increased risk of preterm delivery and neural tube defects. The assessment of its knowledge is essential in preventing neural tube defects.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of folic acid as a preventive measure for neural tube defects, and their determinants amongst pregnant women at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 451 antenatal attendees at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from January 1 to March 31, 2020. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from the women after consent was given. Data obtained was collated, entered in a spread sheet, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results are expressed in means and percentages. The confidence interval was set at 95% and a p-value of &lt; 0.05 was statistically significant. Chi square test and Pearson’s correlation were used to determine association between knowledge of folic acid and variables.&#x0D; Results: Majority 258 (57.2%) of the women were aged 30-39 years and were mostly nulliparous 122 (27.1%). Over two-third 330 (73.2%) had post-secondary education and almost all 409 (90.7%) of the women were married. Most 375 (83.1%) of the pregnant women were aware of folic acid and its use in peri-conception care. The main source of information was from healthcare workers (54.8%), followed by family and friends (14.6%) and online media (12.0%). Only 169 (37.5%) were aware of the role of folic acid in preventing NTDs. Knowledge about the role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects was significantly associated with younger age, post-secondary education, occupation, and low parity (p value &lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Age, educational level, occupation, and parity were significantly predictive of knowledge of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects.

Assessment Of Awareness Of Folic Acid Use Among Pregnant Women In Primary Health Care Center

It was used for descriptive study assessment of awareness of folic acid use among pregnant women in primary health care center. the sample exclusion the single women and consisted of 40 pregnant women from 4 primary health centers (includes (40) women use folic acid during pregnancy in primary health care center seeking for treatment PHC. included PHC of Al-Sader, PHC of Martyr Ali Al-Kaabi, PHC of Martyr Kazem Abdul Nabi and the model health center of Al-Russafa 3 in The city of Baghdad, during the period from January 2019 to the end of March 2019. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: the first, socio-demographic. characteristics consisted: age mother, monthly income, level of education, occupation and second part, concerning previous reproductive history variables for women, it consisted of gravida, parity, number of abortions, age at marriage, stillbirth, birth defects dead & alive, arrangement present pregnancy, while part three include pregnant women's awareness of folic acid. The The study data was analyzed by using the (Microsoft Excel) 2016 version, during a statistical approach that comprise frequency and percentage The study results show that the level of awareness for benefits of using folic acid the highest percentage (65.0%) of study sample was (yes). Also, the highest percentage (67.5%) of study sample use folic acid in the first 3 months. the level of education was the highest percentage (30.0%) of study sample was primary school graduate. The highest percentage (32.5%) of study sample was at age group (20-26) years and low educational level(Primary school graduate), housewives with enough somewhat income. As a result of this study it was determined that most of the women shared in the study were with multigravida (3-4), most of them graduated from primary school and they have a low awareness about folic acid. The study recommends encouraging The health care provider should set up health programs and raise community awareness about the properties of folic acid and early medical examination that would maintain healthy pregnancy.

Female awareness about the preconception use of folic acid supplements in childbearing age: A cross-sectional study.

Folic acid is required for the growth and development of the fetus. There is strong evidence that taking folic acid before pregnancy and during the first trimester reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). This study aimed to assess women's awareness of preconception folic acid supplementation and its importance to the mother and the fetus. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted in Saudi Arabia between January and April 2019. An electronic questionnaire tool was designed and distributed using Google Forms through social media (Facebook and WhatsApp) websites. Binary logistics regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for predictors of poor levels of awareness about folic acid. A total of 514 women participated in this study. The age range for the study participants was 18-45years. Only 24.1% of the participants reported that they routinely took folic acid. The most commonly reported source of information about folic acid use was the doctor. The majority of the participants had poor awareness of folic acid use. Older age (30years and above) and not taking regular folic acid supplements were important predictors of poor awareness of folic acid. Having a university degree or higher education was an important predictor of increased awareness about folic acid. Our study found that the awareness of the Saudi women was poor in identifying the generic name of folic acid, recognising the sources of folic acid, the correct dose of folic acid, and the side effects of high doses of folic acid and that there was good knowledge about the importance of folic acid, the consequences of folic acid deficiency, and the belief that even non-pregnant women and girls of childbearing age should take folic acid.

Folic acid awareness and usage among females at Saudi Electronic University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:This study evaluates awareness of folic acid and neural tube defects, use of folic acid and knowledge of folic acid usage among female university students in Saudi Arabia.Methods:An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Jeddah branch of Saudi Electronic University. A total of 400 female students in the 19–45 years age group were contacted to participate in the study using a convenience sampling method. Eighty-eight students refused to participate, so 312 students were included in the study. Demographic characteristics of participants and their awareness, usage and knowledge of folic acid are presented as frequencies and percentages. Logistic regression analysis was used to compute crude odds ratios to show the association between demographic factors and knowledge of folic acid supplementation. A further adjusted odds ratio was calculated to control for other cofactors. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.Results:Overall, 81.1% (253/312) of respondents had heard of folic acid, 30.4% knew about neural tube defects, and 47.1% of respondents reported using folic acid supplements. Marriage was found to be associated with awareness of folic acid (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.64 (1.01–6.91)). Health sciences specialization and experience of pregnancy were associated with the usage of folic acid (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 3.46 (1.73–6.91) and adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 6.70 (3.09–14.53), respectively). A bachelor’s and above education level was found to be associated with knowledge of folic acid deficiency leading to neural tube defects (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.03 (1.17–3.52)), and health sciences specialization was found to be associated with knowledge of natural sources of folic acid (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.33 (1.25–4.36)). Similarly, marriage was found to be associated with knowledge of the correct dosage of folic acid and timing of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 6.34 (3.50–11.48) and adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 3.45 (1.93–6.16), respectively). Experience of pregnancy was found to be an associated with good total knowledge of folic acid (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 3.05 (1.65–5.63); p = 0.0001).Conclusion:The study findings highlight the lack of awareness among female university students about the importance of folic acid usage in the prevention of neural tube defects. There is a need for interventional programs in universities to create awareness.

Relationship between dietary habits and folic acid awareness in registered dietitian course students

Relationship between dietary habits and folic acid awareness in registered dietitian course students

AWARENESS OF FOLIC ACID USE AND ITS EFFECTS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN UKRAINE

The aim: To evaluate the awareness of folic acid, its use and effects, general knowledge about neural tube defects among medical students in Ukraine. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted by questioning 114 fourth and fifth years’ students of the Faculty of Medicine. The questionnaire contained questions about folic acid, its dietary sources, effects and periconceptional uses; spina bifida and its main symptoms. Results: Overall, 96.5% of students knew that folic acid was a vitamin and 95.6% were aware of the one natural product which had a high folate level. However, awareness of its amount in different products was insufficient. Overall, 86.8% of surveyed knew that folic acid deficiency during pregnancy caused the congenital malformations. The knowledge of the synthetic folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy was low (67.5% and 53.5% respectively). Only 10 % of women among medical students consumed folic acid regularly. Conclusions: Despite the high level of general knowledge about folic acid and its effects among medical students in Ukraine, there is a poor awareness of the pre-conception administration of folic acid, and the number of people who regularly take folic acid among the respondents was very low.

Inadequate Status and Low Awareness of Folate in Switzerland-A Call to Strengthen Public Health Measures to Ensure Sufficient Intakes.

Background: Folate plays an essential role in the prevention of neural tube defects, yet little is known about the folate status of women of reproductive age or to what degree the general population is aware of the importance of folate in early-life development. We aimed to determine folate status in women of reproductive age and pregnant women in Switzerland, and to assess folate awareness in the Swiss population. Methods: In a convenience sample of 171 women of reproductive age and 177 pregnant women throughout Switzerland, we measured red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration. In a second convenience sample (n = 784, men and women) we assessed folate knowledge with an online survey. Results: RBC folate concentration (median interquartile range) was 442 (366, 564) nmol/L in women of reproductive age and 873 (677, 1177) nmol/L in pregnant women. Folate deficiency (RBC folate <340 nmol/L) was found in 19.9% of women of reproductive age and 2.8% of pregnant women, while 91.8% of women of reproductive age and 52.0% of pregnant women showed folate concentrations indicating an elevated risk of neural tube defects (RBC folate <906 nmol/L). The online survey showed that a high proportion (≥88%) of participants were aware of folate’s role in neural tube defect (NTD) prevention and fetal development, yet knowledge about dietary sources and national recommendations of folate supplementation when planning pregnancy were limited. Conclusion: The high prevalence of folate inadequacy in Swiss women suggests an elevated risk of neural tube defects and calls for urgent measures to increase folate intakes.

Awareness, knowledge and the factors that affect the use of folic acid among pregnant and non-pregnant women in the reproductive age in a selected area in Colombo district, Sri Lanka

<strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of neural tube defects in Sri Lanka is estimated to be 1.21 per 1000 births. According to the WHO, programs to increase folic acid (FA) consumption among women of reproductive age may benefit countries where the NTD rate is higher than 0.6/1,000 live births. Food fortification is an effective method but there is still no mandatory fortification policy in Sri Lanka. Therefore, improving knowledge and voluntary use of FA remains a high priority. The study aimed to determine the awareness and knowledge on FA among pregnant and non pregnant women. <strong> </strong> <strong>Methods: </strong>A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 pregnant and 400 non-pregnant women aged 18-45 years from Colombo District in Sri Lanka. Data were collected using an anonymous, standardized, interviewer administered questionnaire, which included questions about socio-demographic data, obstetric history, FA knowledge and use. <strong> </strong> <strong>Results: </strong>FA awareness and knowledge on its pre-conceptional use were significantly low among non-pregnant women younger than 25 years (OR=0.120, 95% CI=0.068-0.211, p=0.000; OR=0.153, 95% CI=0.090-0.262, p=0.000). Pregnant women with knowledge that FA prevents birth defects were significantly more likely to take FA during pregnancy (OR=10.760, 95% CI=1.244-93.068, p=0.007) and the pre-conceptional period (OR=1.807, 95% CI=1.172-2.786, p=0.007). Women who received information from field clinics were significantly more likely to have FA awareness (OR=4.779, 95% CI=0.913-25.021, p=0.042), knowledge on pre-conceptional use of FA (OR=2.972, 95% CI=1.179-7.491, p=0.016) and took FA during pregnancy (OR=39.773, 95% CI=4.542-348.271, p=0.000). Those who received information from home visits were significantly more likely to have knowledge on the role of FA in preventing birth defects (OR=1.958, 95% CI=1.133-3.384, p=0.015), took FA during their pregnancy (OR=15.102, 95% CI=1.743-130.841, p=0.001) and in the pre-conceptional period (OR=2.117, 95% CI=1.316-3.405, p=0.002). Women who got information through media were also significantly more likely to have knowledge on the role of FA in preventing birth defects. (OR=2.487, 95% CI=1.006-6.149, p=0.042). <strong> </strong> <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Health education campaigns have to be specifically targeted for younger women from ethnic minorities and from low household income families. Field clinics and home visits from public health midwives have been a significant sources of information and media campaigns can be an effective means of promoting health education regarding use of preconceptional folic acid.

An Evaluation of Awareness, Knowledge, and Use of Folic Acid and Dietary Folate Intake among Non-Pregnant Women of Childbearing Age and Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study from Turkey

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to evaluate awareness, knowledge, and use of folic acid and dietary folate intake among non-pregnant women of childbearing age and pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was completed with 1442 women (1106 non-pregnant and 336 pregnant) in Ankara, Turkey. The individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and use of folic acid were questioned and food consumption were taken. More than two-thirds of the non-pregnant and pregnant women had heard of folic acid (77.2% and 89.0%, respectively). The pregnant women (53.9%) knew more that folic acid should be used before conception in order to prevent congenital anomalies than non-pregnant women (41.4%). It was found that 70.2% of the pregnant women and only 15.1% of the non-pregnant women used folic acid supplementation. The pregnant women (1368.4 mcg; 330.4 mcg) significantly had higher folic acid and dietary folate intake than non-pregnant women (29.6 mcg; 289.3 mcg) (p < .01). Despite many public health campaigns, awareness, knowledge, and appropriate use of folic acid are still inadequate and not at the desired level in women of childbearing age.

Awareness and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age in Benue State, Nigeria.

Introductionevery year in Nigeria 12,695 babies are born with neural tube defects. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defect by about 50% among peri-conceptional users. We conducted this study to determine the awareness and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age in Benue State, Nigeria.Methodswe conducted a cross-sectional study among women attending selected among six secondary health facilities in Benue State using a multi-stage sampling technique. We interviewed 586 women aged 15-49 years using structured questionnaires to obtain information on awareness and use of folic acid. We performed univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis at 5% significance.Resultsinterviewed 586 women with the mean age 27 ± 6.9 years; 281(48%) were aware of folic acid as a supplement, 178 (30.4%) knew the dietary source of folic acid while 152 (26%) knew the benefit of folic acid. The commonest source of information was health professionals [195 (51%)]. Only 221 (37.7%) used folic acid, 14 (1.7%) of them using it within the first trimester. The commonest reason why women did not take folic acid as supplement was unpleasant smell [124 (21%)]. Awareness of folic acid benefit (OR: 6, 95%CI = 3.9-8.8), level of education (OR: 2.0, 95%CI = 1.2-3.3) and employment status (OR: 1.6, 95%CI= 1.1-22) were significantly associated with folic acid use. Awareness of folic acid use was an independent predictor of folic acid use (AOR: 7.9 95%Cl: 5.3-11.7).Conclusionawareness and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age was low. Awareness is a predictor of folic acid use. We recommend the promotion of awareness and use of folic acid in pregnant women.

Awareness and factors associated with reported intake of folic acid-fortified flour among women of reproductive age in Ifakara, Morogoro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundFolic acid fortification of staple foods has been in place in many countries for over two decades. Studies have shown that folic acid fortification can significantly reduce incidence of neural tube defects. Tanzania adopted a mandatory fortification policy for commercially-produced wheat and maize flour in 2011. We determined factors influencing intake of folic acid-fortified flour among women of reproductive age (WRA).MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among WRA during March–April 2017 in Ifakara Town Council, Morogoro region. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select study participants. We used a questionnaire to capture information on demographics, awareness of folic acid, awareness of existence of folic acid fortified flour in community and intake of folic acid fortified flour. Intake was defined as reported consumption of folic acid fortified flour products at least once within 7 days before interview. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic analyses were done to evaluate factors associated with intake of folic acid fortified flour.ResultsThe median age of the 698 participating WRA was 30 years (range: 18–49). Awareness of folic acid and folic acid fortified flour was 6.9% (95% CI: 5.2–9.0%) and 7.5% (95% CI: 5.7–9.6%), respectively. Consumption of folic acid fortified flour was 63.3% (95% CI: 59.7–66.8%). Independent factors associated with intake included being employed (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.19–3.06), having no children (nulliparity) (aOR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.36–4.95) or having 1–4 children (aOR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.17–3.33) (vs. 5 or more children), and folic acid awareness (aOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.30–4.92).ConclusionFolic acid fortified flour was used by most respondents in our study despite low awareness of existence of folic acid fortified flour in the community. Being employed, having fewer than five children, and folic acid awareness were independent factors associated with intake. We recommend scaling up of mandatory flour fortification program and doing further studies on blood folate level among women of reproductive age in Ifakara to assess fortification program effectiveness.