Female awareness about the preconception use of folic acid supplements in childbearing age: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aims Folic acid is required for the growth and development of the fetus. There is strong evidence that taking folic acid before pregnancy and during the first trimester reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). This study aimed to assess women's awareness of preconception folic acid supplementation and its importance to the mother and the fetus. Methods This was a cross‐sectional questionnaire study conducted in Saudi Arabia between January and April 2019. An electronic questionnaire tool was designed and distributed using Google Forms through social media (Facebook and WhatsApp) websites. Binary logistics regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for predictors of poor levels of awareness about folic acid. Results A total of 514 women participated in this study. The age range for the study participants was 18‐45 years. Only 24.1% of the participants reported that they routinely took folic acid. The most commonly reported source of information about folic acid use was the doctor. The majority of the participants had poor awareness of folic acid use. Older age (30 years and above) and not taking regular folic acid supplements were important predictors of poor awareness of folic acid. Having a university degree or higher education was an important predictor of increased awareness about folic acid. Conclusion Our study found that the awareness of the Saudi women was poor in identifying the generic name of folic acid, recognising the sources of folic acid, the correct dose of folic acid, and the side effects of high doses of folic acid and that there was good knowledge about the importance of folic acid, the consequences of folic acid deficiency, and the belief that even non‐pregnant women and girls of childbearing age should take folic acid.

Level of Knowledge and Awareness of Female Undergraduate Students and Determinants of Knowledge of Folic Acid and Supplementation

“…This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and awareness of FA and FA supplementation of a cohort of undergraduate female students, and determine the possible predictors for knowledge of FA and FA supplementation. In this study, we found that 61.0% of our respondents were aware and have knowledge of FA similar to the findings conducted in Korea and many other countries [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. However, our study population were college students compared to other studies where the respondents were general populations of women.…”

“…A survey conducted in Korea showed that 65.6% of surveyed women had heard of FA before pregnancy, and 26.4% reported on the pre-conceptional use of FA [ 9 ]. 9 In some other studies, the knowledge regarding FA need varied from 34.0% to over 67% [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. However, despite their knowledge, few women, as low as 9.4% in some studies to as much as 46.3% in others, in their childbearing age take FA supplements [ 11 , 13 , 15 ].…”

“…Women with a university degree or higher education were found to be more likely to be aware of FA and use FA in the preconception period [ 9 , 10 , 13 ]. Other factors that were found to be associated with knowledge and awareness of FA included higher household income and being employed [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. On the other hand, women aged 19–24 years, unmarried women, unemployed housewives, women with a high school diploma or lower educational level, women who had experienced unplanned pregnancy and women who had never been pregnant were likely to be aware and knowledgeable of FA or consume FA supplements [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…Furthermore, a study showed that older women have the tendency to not use FA supplementation [ 19 ]. The most commonly reported source of information were healthcare professionals [ 13 , 14 ]. We hypothesized that a high level of knowledge of FA among college educated females exists and that the knowledge is even greater among female college students who are enrolled in health related courses.…”

Impact of Folate Biofortified Food Supplement on Rural Women Health and Willingness-to-pay: A Study Based on A Connected Randomized Controlled Trial- Becker–DeGroot–Marschak Experiment in China

“…Due to limitations in economic development level, local food varieties, and culinary habits, developing countries are at a higher risk of folate de ciency and its adverse effects [6]. With increasing physiological folate need for procreation, folate de ciency often appears in women of childbearing age [7]. Folate de ciency could affect health, lead to severe consequences for future generations, and bring further substantial economic and social losses [8].…”