Prevalence Of Folic Acid Supplementation Research Articles

Evaluation of the prevalence of folic acid supplementation before conception and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in Polish women at high risk of fetal anomalies.

Local and international organizations recommend folic acid (FA) supplementation in the periconceptional period. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of periconceptional supplementation with FA in women at high risk of fetal anomalies refferred for first trimester screening. Our analysis involved 1,455 women at high risk of fetal anomalies refferred for first trimester screening. FA supplementation was assessed by face-to-face interviews conducted by doctors performing first trimester screening for aneuploidy. FA supplementation before pregnancy was reported by 46.8% of the women and during the first trimester by 57.2% of those studied. Women used FA supplementation more frequently if they had a history of at least one miscarriage (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.70-2.83; p < 0.001), a history of assissted reproductive techniques (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.18-4.31; p = 0.014), or were aged between 30 and 34 (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.47-5.58; p = 0.002). Among 122 women with a history of fetal defects only 50% confirmed FA supplementation before pregnancy and 62.2% during pregnancy (p = 0.488). A similar frequency of FA supplementation was noted among women with epilepsy, diabetes, and hypertension. Less frequent taking of FA was noted among women at least third and subsequent pregnancies (p < 0.001). In the current pregnancy, neural tube defects (NTDs) were less frequent by 86% in the group of women with FA supplementation than in the non-supplementation group (1 case vs 6 cases, respectively) and for other fetal defects by 62.5% (24 vs 40 cases, respectively). We found an unsatisfactory compliance with recommendations for the use of folic acid supplementation during periconceptional period among women at high risk of fetal defects and folate deficiency, that could have negative effects on the health of child and mother. The study results show the need to increase the awareness of FA supplementation during periconceptional period especially in women with high risk of fetal anomalies.

Maternal folic acid supplementation and more prominent birth weight gain in twin birth compared with singleton birth: a cross-sectional study in northwest China.

To investigate the association of folic acid (FA) supplementation with birth weight, the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW) in singleton and twin pregnancy. A population-based cross-sectional survey. Twenty counties and ten districts in Shaanxi Province of northwestern China, 2013. 28174 pregnant women with their infants, covering 27818 single live births and 356 twin live births. The prevalence of FA supplementation in singletons and twins was 63·9 and 66·3 %. The mean birth weight was 3267 (sd 459·1) g, 2525 (sd 534·0) g and 2494 (sd 539·5) g; the prevalence of SGA was 14·3, 51·4 and 53·4 %; the prevalence of LBW was 3·4, 42·4 and 46·6 % among singleton, twin A and twin B, respectively. Compared with non-users, women with FA supplementation were (β 17·3, 95 % CI 6·1, 28·4; β 166·3, 95 % CI 69·1, 263·5) associated with increased birth weight, lower risk of SGA (OR 0·85, 95 % CI 0·80, 0·92; OR 0·45, 95 % CI 0·30, 0·68) and LBW (OR 0·82, 95 % CI 0·71, 0·95; OR 0·50, 95 % CI 0·33, 0·75) in singletons and twins, and more prominent effects in twins. Moreover, there were significant interactions between FA supplementation and plurality on birth weight, SGA and LBW. The present study suggests the association of periconceptional 0·4 mg/d FA supplementation with increased birth weight and reduced risk of SGA and LBW in both singletons and twins, and this association may be more prominent in twins.

Low Prevalence of Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy: A Multicenter Study in Vietnam.

Periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation is recommended to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs), but little information is known about its use in Vietnam. It is important that FA supplements start to be taken when planning a pregnancy and continued through the first trimester to prevent NTDs, as the neural tube closes in the first month of pregnancy. However, FA supplementation in Vietnam is usually recommended to commence from the first antenatal visit, which is usually at 16 weeks, and very few women take FA before their first visit. This multicenter study aimed to determine the prevalence of FA supplement use and associated maternal characteristics in Vietnam. FA supplementation was assessed in 2030 singleton pregnant women between 2015 and 2016. In total, 654 (32.2%) women reported taking either supplements containing FA alone or multivitamins containing FA, and 505 (24.9%) reported correctly taking supplements containing FA alone. Women who were aged 30 years or over, had low education levels, had formal employment, and whose current pregnancy was first or unplanned were less likely to supplement with FA. Education programs are needed to encourage FA supplementation when contemplating pregnancy.

Prevalence of Folic Acid Supplementation by Pregnant Women in Vietnam (P10-102-19)

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of folic acid supplement use and associated maternal characteristics in Vietnam. MethodsA multicentre cohort study to which logistics regression analyses were used to explore factors that determined whether folic acid was taken. Folic acid usage was assessed via face-to-face interviews with 2030 pregnant women at 24–28th week of gestation in Hanoi, Haiphong and Hochiminh City, Vietnam during 2015–2017. Given that the multivitamin supplements available in Vietnam contain folic acid, the first binary outcome variable was defined as the use of either folic acid or multivitamin supplements for the entire first six months of pregnancy (1 = regular user, 0 = non-regular user). The second binary outcome variable was defined as the use of folic acid supplement only for the entire first six months of pregnancy (1 = regular user, 0 = non-regular user). For both outcomes, the ‘non-regular user’ group included participants who never consumed the supplement (non-users) and those users who took the tablets for less than the six-month pregnancy period. Information on maternal characteristics was also obtained during the baseline interview, including age, formal employment, education level, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, and planned pregnancy. ResultsThe proportions of pregnant women who reported getting folic acid for the entire first six months of pregnancy was low at 25.8% for either folic acid or multivitamin supplements, and 20.1% for folic acid supplements only. This means that almost 75–80% of mothers did not take folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy, leaving almost all Vietnamese mothers unprotected against neural tube defects. Women aged 30–34 years and those with low education levels, formal employment, first or unplanned pregnancy, were less likely to consume these supplements. ConclusionsThe results show that the number of women taking folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy is low. In order to prevent neural tube defects for all Vietnamese children, improved policies are needed for the distribution of folic acid tablets and health promotion campaigns targeting these vulnerable subgroups of women for usage and adherence are recommended. Funding SourcesThis research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Prevalence of folic acid supplement consumption before and during pregnancy, and its determinants among community health center referrals.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and determinants of folic acid supplementation among women referred to community health centers.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in 325 women referred to community health centers. The subjects were selected from 8 community health centers, using a stratified sampling technique. Data regarding demographics, socioeconomic status, obstetrics, folic acid supplementation status, and household food security status were obtained via questionnaires. The data was analyzed in SPSS v22.ResultsThe prevalence of folic acid supplementation both before and during pregnancy was 54.5%. The results of the study showed that folic acid supplementation had a significant positive association with education level (odds ratio [OR],0 .441; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.199–0.977; P<0.05), being employed (OR, 0.353; 95% CI, 0.148–0.840; P<0.05), and planned pregnancy (OR, 18.113; 95% CI, 7.371–44.51; P<0.001). However, other variables, including age, husband's age, husband's education and employment status, the number of prior pregnancies, economic satisfaction, and household food security, were nonsignificant factors affecting folic acid supplementation.ConclusionWomen with lower socioeconomic status are less likely to take folic acid supplements, and more effort should be made to increase their awareness of the importance of supplementation. Unplanned pregnancy is another strong risk factor for not supplementing with folic acid, and thus should be avoided.

Socioeconomic inequality in periconceptional folic acid supplementation in China: a census of 0.9 million women in their first trimester of pregnancy

BackgroundTo assess socioeconomic inequality in periconceptional folic acid supplementation in China.MethodsWe used data of periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation of rural Chinese women from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project from 2010 to 2012 and socioeconomic level data from the National Bureau of Statistics. We used logistic models to assess the associations between the prevalence of taking FA and the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the couples, and the socioeconomic levels of their region of residence.ResultsOf the 907,720 included women, 682,315 (75.62%) of the women reported taking FA. The prevalence of FA supplementation was significantly higher in participants aged 21–29 (75.87%) than in those women aged 40–49 (68.44%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of FA supplementation was significantly higher in the region with the highest Per Capita Gross Regional Product than in the regions with lower Per Capita Gross Regional Product (aOR = 12.20 [95% CI:9.54–15.61]). The higher the per capita net income of farmer households in the region, the higher the prevalence of FA supplementation (aOR = 1.95 [95% CI:1.74–2.18]).ConclusionsThe rate of periconceptional FA supplementation among rural Chinese women has increased with the support of China’s Health System Reform policy. However, socioeconomic disparities in periconceptional folic acid supplementation remain.

Pre-conceptional intake of folic acid supplements is inversely associated with risk of preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age birth: a prospective cohort study.

Associations of folic acid supplementation with risk of preterm birth (PTB) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth were unclear for the Chinese populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations in a large Chinese prospective cohort study: the Jiaxing Birth Cohort. In the Jiaxing Birth Cohort, 240 954 pregnant women visited local clinics or hospitals within their first trimester in Southeast China during 1999-2012. Information on anthropometric parameters, folic acid supplementation and other maternal characteristics were collected by in-person interviews during their first visit. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded during the follow-up of these participants. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association of folic acid supplementation with pregnancy outcomes. The prevalence of folic acid supplementation was 24·9% in the cohort. The prevalence of PTB and SGA birth was 3·48 and 9·2%, respectively. Pre-conceptional folic acid supplementation was associated with 8% lower risk of PTB (relative risk (RR) 0·92; 95% CI 0·85, 1·00; P=0·04) and 19% lower risk of SGA birth (RR 0·81; 95% CI 0·70, 0·95; P=0·008), compared with non-users. Higher frequency of pre-conceptional folic acid use was associated with lower risk of PTB (P trend=0·032) and SGA birth (P trend=0·046). No significant association between post-conceptional initiation of folic acid supplementation and either outcome was observed. In conclusion, the present study suggests an association between pre-conceptional, but not post-conceptional, folic acid supplementation and lower risk of PTB and SGA birth in the Jiaxing Birth Cohort. Further research in other cohorts of large sample size is needed to replicate these findings.

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation among pregnant women with epilepsy in a developing country: A retroprospective survey in China

ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to investigate the implementation of guidelines on periconceptional folic acid supplementation among pregnant women with epilepsy (WWE) in China and to identify its potential correlations with selected sociodemographic and clinical factors. MethodsA detailed investigation was conducted in China using a structured questionnaire from December 2013 to May 2014. Data on the awareness and use of folic acid supplementation, as well as sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, were collected from 153 pregnant WWE. Descriptive analysis, followed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, was applied to the data from this survey. ResultsAmong the enrolled subjects, 67.3% became pregnant after the promulgation of the relevant guidelines. Only 26.2% of them knew the exact effects of folic acid, and 73.8% had taken folic acid at some point during periconception. In addition, the folic acid intake of most of these women (67.1%) did not exceed that of the average pregnant woman. The prevalence of folic acid supplementation for pregnant WWE three months before pregnancy was only 15.5%. There has been almost no improvement in the level of additional awareness and use of folic acid supplementation for WWE since the relevant guidelines were established in China. Pregnant WWE with higher education levels, those with a planned pregnancy, or those who live in urban areas were more likely to know about and implement folic acid supplementation during periconception. Moreover, pregnant WWE with a planned pregnancy or those living in cities seemed to have a higher folic acid intake and started folic acid supplementation earlier before conception. ConclusionThe extent of awareness and use of folic acid supplementation in pregnant WWE remains low in China. More efforts are needed to promote periconceptional folic acid supplementation for WWE, especially those with low education levels and those who live in rural areas. Planned pregnancy should be encouraged for WWE.

Fatores associados ao uso de suplemento de ácido fólico durante a gestação Factors associated with folic acid use during pregnancy

To estimate the prevalence of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and to identify maternal factors associated with its consumption. This was a cross-sectional study with 280 women from the city of Diamantina (MG), Brazil. The dependent variable was use of a folic acid supplement during pregnancy, and the independent variables were age and maternal schooling, number of prenatal care visits, parity, marital status and presence or absence of anemia. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess the association of independent variables with the dependent variable. Women with less education, adolescents, and number of prenatal visits less than seven were 1.61 (95%CI=1.34-1.93), 1.18 (95%CI=1.03-1.35) e 1.18 (95%CI=1.02-1.37) more likely not to consume the supplement during pregnancy, respectively. The prevalence of consumption of folic acid among pregnant women was low, associated with maternal age and education and number of prenatal visits.

Preconception Counselling: A Five- Year Experience in a Teratology Information Service

Objectives: This study aims at evaluating drug prescription patterns, the exposure to teratogenic drugs, the prevalence of chronic maternal diseases and the attitude towards the supplementation of folic acid in a selected high-risk population asking for a preconception counselling. Study Design: A descriptive study on 4077 cases of drug exposures carried out by an Italian Teratology Information Service, from January 2002 to October 2008. Results: The exposure to neurological drugs was the main reason for calling in women trying to get pregnant. Teratogenic drugs accounted for 40% of total prescriptions and chronic diseases, most of them neurological (70%), were highly prevalent (54%). Folic acid was dispensed to 54% of women at the time of call. In the subpopulation of women suffering from epilepsy, only 12% were given folic acid. Conclusions: The exposure to teratogenic drugs and the prevalence of chronic diseases is frequent in the population asking for a counselling and can increase the risk of a negative outcome of pregnancy. The prevalence of folic acid supplementation before conception is not yet sufficient and should be improved, especially in high- risk patients, such as epileptic women. The Teratology Information Service may support general health and provide information about preconception care thus improving the outcome of pregnancy, mainly in high-risk populations affected by chronic diseases and often treated by teratogenic drugs. Keywords: Chronic diseases, Drugs, Folic acid, Preconception care, Pregnancy, Preventive medicine, Teratology