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.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and explore factors of adequate physical activity among pregnant women in maternal care. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in healthy pregnant women visiting the antenatal clinics of the Maternity & Children's Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A structured questionnaire was administered face to face to collect the following: 1) sociodemographic and obstetrical data; 2) the Arabic version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) developed by Lisa Chasan-Taber; and 3) barriers to exercise. The PPAQ enabled calculating average weekly energy expenditures in various activities, in metabolic equivalent (MET-h/week) and determining two levels of physical activity (active versus inactive). Results: Two hundred and five pregnant women were included: 49.3% were multiparous (gravida >2) and 55.6% declared exercising before pregnancy. The median overall energy expenditure was 108.0 MET-h/week, and household/caregiving activities accounted for the most important share (median = 45.7 MET-h/week), followed by transportation (12.6 MET-h/week). Of the total, 45.9% met the WHO criteria of adequate physical activity. There was no statistically significant difference between physically active and inactive participants across demographic factors. The most common barriers to being active were lack of energy, fatigue, or drowsiness (70.2%), lack of education by doctors (68.3%), and inconvenient weather (62.0%). Conclusion: Women in Saudi Arabia have decline in physical activity during pregnancy, and less than 50% maintain a level of exercise that enables beneficial effects on their overall health and pregnancy outcome. Health authorities and decision makers should consider implementing a national strategy and guidelines for the promotion of physical activity during pregnancy.

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