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ABSTRACT-This study aimed to assess the awareness of the importance of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects (the timing of folic acid supplementation and the right doses) in Jeddah the western region of Saudi Arabia. A sample of 501 married women in the reproductive age (19-45 years) who visited the outpatients clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between August and October/2015 were asked to participate in a survey study targeting the awareness and the use of folic acid before and during pregnancy. First step was collecting Participants' responds on a range of questions related to socio demographic & medical characteristics. Then in second step they were provided with questions related to their awareness before and after reading the distributed intervention brochure. Of the 501 Participants, 317 (63.3%) were Saudis, many were above 30 years of age (55.1%), 460 (91.8%) heard about folic acid & 429 (85.6%) have taken it. However, only 169 (33.7%) knew that it must be given during preconception and as early as the 1st 12 weeks of gestation. A significant difference was found before and after reading the brochure in Participants' knowledge about the benefits of folic acid in preventing neural tubal defect , the critical time of administration & the right doses (P <0.000, P <0.000, P <0.000) respectively. University education was the strongest predictor to have the right information with significant difference (P <0.000). 279 (71.2%) of the participants reported the medical staff as to be their main source of information. The health care professionals and media need to increase women awareness about the importance of taking folic acid supplementation in the proper time to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.

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