Effects of Folic Acid Public Education on Awareness, Knowledge and Behavior Change in Women of Childbearing Age in Preventing Neural Tube Defects

1999 ◽  
Vol 99 (9) ◽  
pp. A56
Author(s):  
M.A. McFarland ◽  
C.B. Johnson ◽  
J.M. Moore ◽  
C.D. Pierce ◽  
K.T. Robinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
And Behavior

Folic Acid for the Prevention of Fetal Neural Tube Defects

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aremu Olayinka Olaitan ◽  
Oladejo Oluwatobiloba Rukayat ◽  
Olowokere Adekemi Eunice ◽  
Olajubu Aanuoluwapo Omobolanle
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
P Value ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

The use of folic acid supplements before and during the first three months of pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects (NTDs). This study assessed knowledge and factors that influence the use of folic acid, the actual use of folic acid and its relationship with socio-demographic factors among women of childbearing age in the Ife Central Local Government, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted to select 400 women of childbearing age who participated in the study using a self-structured questionnaire. Results from this study showed that 39.8 per cent of the study participants had good knowledge about the benefits of folic acid, 64.6 per cent of the participants reported to have used folic acid at one time in their lives, while 55.5 per cent of them reported not to have taken folic acid before their pregnancy. This study also revealed a significant association between the respondents’ socio-demographic factors and the use of folic acid with a p-value of .000 (p-value < 0.05). The study concluded that knowledge about the use of folic acid for the prevention of NTDs among women of childbearing age is not adequate and that very few of them used folic acid at the appropriate time.

scholarly journals Awareness of Folic Acid Intake among Women of Childbearing Age in Ha’il region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-54
Author(s):  
Farida Habib Khan Khan ◽  
Shog K. Alahmed ◽  
Wijdan S. Alsaad ◽  
Ashwaq H. Alshammari
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Acid Deficiency

Background: Folic acid deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies among women of childbearing-age. Folic acid is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin. Although the deficiency is easily corrected by administration of folic acid, but still the prevalence of folic acid deficiency is high. It can lead to neural tube defects (NTDs) in fetus, which are a major cause of severe disability and mortality among infant population, occurring in over one quarter of a million new-borns per year, worldwide. NTDs occur in the very early phase of pregnancy when the mother herself does not know that she is pregnant. This study has assessed awareness of women of childbearing age on folic acid i.e., timing of folic acid supplementation, different sources, symptoms of its deficiency, toxicity and its effect on fetus. Study was conducted in Ha’il region and its suburbs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the period between October 2020 and February 2021. Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional community-based study was carried out among 842 women aged between18 and 45 years using a close-ended questionnaire. Results: In total, Folic Acid was taken by just 23.87% of participants. Only 33% knew that Folic Acid deficiency causes neural tube defects in fetus. Further it was revealed that postgraduates had a significantly better knowledge on Folic Acid  0.000) than others. Similarly, those who belonged to household where total monthly income was 5000 Saudi Riyals or more had better awareness on Folic Acid than participants who belonged to low socioeconomic status (  0.05). Conclusion: It’s concluded that in Ha’il and its suburb area, women of childbearing age do not possess adequate knowledge on Folic Acid. Neural tube defects in fetus due to folic acid deficiency were not known by a large majority of respondents. However, awareness has a strong association with educational level and socioeconomic status. Hence it is recommended that female literacy and female employment should be promoted, encouraged and supported in Kingdom in order to improve our health indicators.

scholarly journals Prevention of neural tube defects by folic acid – awareness among women of childbearing age in Slovakia

2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (02) ◽  
pp. 91-97
Author(s):  
F. Horn ◽  
L. Sabova ◽  
E. Pinterova ◽  
J. Hornova ◽  
J. Trnka
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Childbearing Age

Folic Acid and the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: A Survey of Awareness Among Latina Women of Childbearing Age Residing in Southeast Michigan

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srimathi Kannan ◽  
Elaine Menotti ◽  
Holly K. Scherer ◽  
Jennifer Dickinson ◽  
Kimberly Larson
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Latina Women ◽  
Childbearing Age

scholarly journals Folic acid awareness and intake among women in areas with high prevalence of neural tube defects in China: a cross-sectional study

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1142-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziqian Zeng ◽  
Ping Yuan ◽  
Yanping Wang ◽  
Xi Ma ◽  
Jun Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence

AbstractObjectiveTo measure folic acid awareness and intake rates among women of childbearing age in certain areas of China with a high prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD).DesignA cross-sectional survey was carried out utilising a nineteen-item questionnaire enquiring into individual women's knowledge of, attitude towards and practice of folic acid supplementation.SettingA total of 293 low-income counties in six provinces of China.SubjectsWomen aged 19–44 years from six provinces with a high prevalence of NTD recruited from June to August 2008.ResultsAmong 33 025 participants, 57 % had heard of folic acid but only 15 % knew all of the core information. The intake rate was 12 %; only 8 % took the recommended dose and only 4 % of non-pregnant women took folic acid. Some women did not take folic acid because they did not know that they should take it (49 %) or they had misconceptions about it (24 %). According to logistic regression analysis, rural residence was a risk factor for folic acid awareness. Ethnicity, educational level, average annual income per person and pregnancy were the influencing factors of folic acid awareness and folic acid intake.ConclusionsAlthough more than half of the respondents had heard of folic acid, the intake rate was still very low in areas with a high prevalence of NTD. Thus, more efforts are needed to increase folic acid awareness and intake among women of reproductive age in these areas.

Sodium Valproate and the Fetus: A Case Study and Review of the Literature

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 363-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Smith ◽  
John Whitehall
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Valproate ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Neural Tube Defects ◽  
Antenatal Screening ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions

Sodium valproate is a teratogen responsible for a wide range of abnormalities, including neural tube defects. It has traditionally been prescribed for epilepsy, but is increasingly used for such psychiatric conditions as bipolar disease. Women of childbearing age taking valproate should be warned of its teratogenicity and advised to plan pregnancies, take a higher dose of folate, discuss reducing the dose of valproate or changing the medication with their physician, and have antenatal screening. After birth, the infant should be examined for a wide range of reported abnormalities. Neurodevelopmental assessment should continue throughout childhood. We present a case that illustrates the need for better education of mothers taking valproate and the medical staff prescribing it.

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