scholarly journals Knowledge and practice of folic acid supplementation and impact of income level on awareness among women of child-bearing age in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1323-1330
Author(s):  
Nawal A. Albader ◽  
Doaa R. Negm ◽  
Eman K. El Gabry ◽  
Mervat M. El-Sayed ◽  
Shaista Arzoo
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Income Level ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Child Bearing

Purpose: To investigate the knowledge of Saudi women (pregnant and non-pregnant) about the significance of folic acid (FA) supplementation and to determine how income levels affects this knowledge and its implementation. Methods: The study was conducted among women of child-bearing age attending Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital and Khaliss General Hospital (both in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) for pregnant women and Omm Al-Qura University in Makkah Governorate (Saudi Arabia) for non-pregnant women. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and to analyze levels of FA knowledge, including general awareness, proper timing of its use, information source, FA benefits, and the perils of FA deficiency. A chi-square test was performed to test the differences between variables. Results: Analysis of the survey data revealed that 81.1 % of non–pregnant and 91.1 % of pregnant women were aware of the term, FA (p < 0.05). Moreover, 71.1 % of the pregnant compared to 35.6% of non-pregnant women knew that this supplement must be taken before becoming pregnant and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). For pregnant women, doctors and previous pregnancies were the main sources of FA knowledge, while mass media was the most frequently reported source for non-pregnant women (p < 0.05). Income level was not associated with FA knowledge in either group. Conclusions: This study illustrates a deficiency in the knowledge and consumption of this important micronutrient in women of childbearing age, the population most in need of this information. Nutrition education should be provided to increase the understanding and practice of FA supplementation periconceptionally and during pregnancy.

Comparison of Diet Quality for Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women

2017 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Hande Nur Onur
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Foetal Development ◽  
Dietary Recall ◽  
Child Bearing

A woman’s nutritional status prior to and during pregnancy affects foetal development, the course of the pregnancy and her long-term health. This study aims to determine the diets of pregnant and non-pregnant women using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010). The study was performed on 43 non-pregnant and 25 pregnant volunteers, who had no chronic diseases, took no diet treatments and had a mean age of 23.0 ± 30.1 years. Their general features were determined through a questionnaire, dietary intake was measured by 24-hour dietary recall method, diet quality was assessed by HEI-2010 and energy and nutrient intake was calculated by the Nutrition Information System programme. The diet quality of 60.3% of the participants was found to be poor, while 39.7% was average. Although pregnant women had a slightly higher HEI-2010 score, the diet quality was low for all; hence, dieticians should provide nutrition education for all child-bearing aged women. Keywords: Diet quality, healthy eating index, pregnancy nutrition.

scholarly journals Awareness, use and information sources of folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects in pregnant Japanese women

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shumi Yamamoto ◽  
Yoshinao Wada
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Japanese Women ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Acid Supplementation ◽  
Folic Acid Supplements

AbstractObjectiveFolic acid supplementation and folate-rich diets are recommended for women of childbearing age worldwide to prevent congenital anomalies. We aimed to determine the current status of folic acid supplementation among pregnant Japanese women and identify means to increase the intake of these supplements.DesignCross-sectional study.SubjectsA total of 1862 pregnant women who consulted the perinatal centre from September 2014 to December 2015 completed a questionnaire concerning knowledge about folic acid, sources of information and the use of folic acid supplements.SettingOsaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health (Japan).ResultsIn our study population, only 20·5 % of pregnant women took folic acid supplements periconceptionally even though 70·4 % knew about the protective effect of folic acid. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that age ≥35 years (OR=2·80; 95 % CI 1·24, 6·29) and knowledge of the benefits of folic acid (OR=2·64; 95 % CI 1·92, 3·62) were associated with periconceptional folic acid use, and multiparity was negatively associated with such use. Compared with those who took folic acid supplements periconceptionally, women who did not take supplements received information through passive and less interactive media.ConclusionsAlthough folic acid awareness was relatively high among pregnant Japanese women, folic acid supplementation before conception was insufficient. To increase the intake of folic acid supplements in countries in which foods are not fortified with folic acid, an effective public health approach promoting behavioural change is necessary for women of reproductive age.

scholarly journals Iodine adequacy in reproductive age women living in the Western region of Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Firas Azzeh ◽  
Bassem Amr Refaat
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Iodine Deficiency ◽  
Urinary Iodine ◽  
The Other ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Who Criteria ◽  
Saudi Women ◽  
Other Hand

Abstract Background Despite the significance of iodine deficiency in women of reproductive age due its associated serious maternal and foetal complications, surveys related to this vulnerable population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are lacking. This study, therefore, aimed to measure the frequency alongside the potential socioeconomic factors contributing towards iodine inadequacy in Saudi women of childbearing age from the Western province of KSA.Methods Urinary iodine concentrations IUIC) were measured in random spot samples collected from 1222 pregnant women and 400 age-matched non-pregnant/non-lactating women. The socioeconomic characteristics were obtained through a structured questionnaire. The classification of iodine sufficiency was based on the WHO criteria for UIC in pregnant (150–249 μg/L) and non-pregnant women (100–199 μg/L).Results The UIC median in the non-pregnant women (101.64 μg/L; IQR: 73.72) was at the lowest WHO recommended cut-off. The pregnant women, on the other hand, had a median UIC (112.99 μg/L; IQR: 104.56) markedly below the minimal WHO limit for pregnancy. Coherently, the median IUC was below adequacy across the trimesters and was lowest during the first trimester. Additionally, 49.7% (n = 199) of the non-pregnant and 62.5% (n = 764) of pregnant women were iodine deficient as per the WHO criteria. While pregnancy (OR = 4.3; 95%CI: 3.08–5.96) and using non-iodised salt (OR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.35–2.83) significantly increased the risk of iodine deficiency, the intake of iodine supplements significantly lowered the risk (OR = 0.010; 95%CI: 0.006–0.017). On the other hand, the intake of iodine above requirement was observed in 8.5% and 4.2% of the non-pregnant and pregnant women, respectively. Moreover, BMI was the sole independent factor increasing the odds (OR = 1.061; 95%CI: 1.010–1.114) of taking iodine above requirements.Conclusions This study is the first to show high prevalence of mild iodine deficiency among reproductive age Saudi women, which could represent a serious public health problem. This study also advocates the necessity to establish routine iodine dietary advice services by the health authorities to foster adequate iodine intake in pregnant women to avoid the perilous maternal-foetal health consequences of iodine deficiency.

scholarly journals Periodontal Disease in Pregnant Women and Impact on in Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
pp. 210-219
Author(s):  
Reham M. Al-Hawiti ◽  
Sarah H. Al-Qahtani ◽  
Abdullah Bedaiwi ◽  
Asma A. Alharbi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Periodontal Disease ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Alveolar Bone ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Periodontal disease is amongst the top ten most common diseases to affect humans and the leading cause of tooth loss for adults, so it’s important to be aware of the condition and how it can develop.Periodontitis is an inflammatory process initiated by bacterial plaque involving the supporting structures of the tooth which include the gingiva, the junctional epithelium, root cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a self-managed questionnaire conducted among 127 pregnant women in King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia            (2020). Results: the study found that 69.3% of cases had symptoms of periodontitis. Also, the study found that there were no significant correlations betweensymptoms of periodontitis and all variables like; age group, marital status, educational level, employment, number of children, brushing daily, and visiting dental clinic during pregnancy (p>0.05). As regards symptoms of periodontitisassociated with pregnancy, our study reported that 56.7% had Bleeding per gum, 44.9% had gum swelling and 40.9% had an offensive odor from the mouth. Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of pregnant women cases had periodontitis and there was no significant association found with different variables like age, educational level, marital status. Also, there was good practice and attitude toward pregnancy-associated periodontitis.

scholarly journals Dietary guidelines for pregnant women

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (6a) ◽  
pp. 1343-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa M Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Women Of Childbearing Age ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Daily Consumption ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
The Ideal

AbstractThe nutrition of pregnant women is decisive in the course of gestation and the health of both mother and child. However, in the Spanish population, clinical monitoring of nutrition is rare, the control of bodyweight receiving most attention. Many studies show that pregnant women take too much fat and too little carbohydrate, and that intakes of fibre and several trace elements are lower than recommended.Although many people think they know what a correct (varied and balanced) diet is, the concept is often misleading. Generally, they do not match the ideal theoretical framework for achieving an adequate energy profile of the diet. Neither do they facilitate intakes of vitamins and minerals close to recommended levels. Nutrition education programmes are therefore required to explain adequate dietary guidelines to pregnant women, and indeed to all women of childbearing age.Considering the criteria suggested by a number of researchers concerning the number of food portions from each food group that pregnant women should include in their diets, the following guidelines for daily consumption are proposed: 3–4 portions of milk products, 2–3 portions of meat, fish or eggs, and 3 portions of fruit, 4–5 portions of vegetables or greens and 7–8 portions of cereals and legumes (a portion is defined as the amount of food that would be found on an average plateful or the normal units of consumption of a food).

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