Background: Folic acid (FA) is a B-complex vitamin that has a vital role for pregnant women and the fetus in the development of the skull and central nerve system. The present study aims to assess the level of knowledge about folic supplements among Females during the Childbearing Period in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A qualitative cross-sectional based on 385 participants aged 18 to 45 females was conducted between 1 January 2021 and 29 August 2021. An online electronic survey employed using social media in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia for this study. Result: The present study found that 10.9% of participants had good knowledge of folic acid, and 89.1% had poor knowledge. Most of the participants (96.1%) heard about folic acid. Among them, 36.1% knew that folic acid is vitamin B. Only 75 (19.5%) females reported getting the proper daily amount of folic acid (400 mg/day), and 216 (56.1%) knew that folic acid should be given before and during the first trimester of pregnancy. Regarding the effects of folic acid deficiency, 51.2% of females reported folic acid deficiency anemia. Only 22.1% of females said they had heard of neural tube defects. Conclusion: The current study concluded that the the female population's knowledge regarding folic acid to be poor. Authors suggest using social media and awareness campaigns to improve the understanding and knowledge of folic acid among Saudi female people.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.