Knowledge among young people about folic acid and its importance during pregnancy: a survey in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany)

Abstract

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation is recommended to prevent congenital malformations, mainly neural tube defects, but only 7% of pregnant women in Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) take folic acid at least 4 weeks before conception and in the first 3 months of pregnancy. From March to June 2004, we sent standardized questionnaires about folic acid and its importance during pregnancy to 33 schools in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt. A total of 4332 young people aged 1521 years completed the questionnaire, of which 2632 were girls (61%) and 1685 were boys (39%). The majority of them (61%) had heard about folic acid, but only 5% knew that it is a vitamin and 0.7% were aware of the physiological functions of folic acid. Only 22% of the young people answered that folic acid should be taken before and during pregnancy, whereas almost all respondents knew other precautions during pregnancy, e.g. "no smoking" and "no alcohol". Our survey shows that the level of awareness of the importance of folic acid at schools is very low. We suggest that the problem of folic acid should be included in the curricula of biology classes at schools to spread the knowledge of this subject among young people.

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation in Southern Brazil: Why are not we doing it right?

“…We identified in our study some independent factors that were related to low adherence to FAS. One of them was younger maternal age, a factor also verified in other studies (Barbosa, Ribeiro, de Faria, Nobre, & Lessa, 2011;Marquia et al, 2014;McDonnell, Johnson, Doyle, & Sayers, 1999;Mezzomo et al, 2007;Pötzsch, Hoyer-Schuschke, Seelig, & Steinbicker, 2006;Rodrigues, Gubert, & Santos, 2015;Stockley & Lund, 2008;Timmermans et al, 2008). According to our study, mothers between the ages 21 and 34 followed more FAS when compared to those aged 20 years or less.…”

Inadequate compliance with periconceptional folic acid supplementation in South Australia

“…The Australian government needs to look at improving health promotion campaigns, possibly raising awareness through school education programs. 19 The government should also publish new recommendations for supplementation and urgently address the issue of manufacturers not including the recommended folic acid dose in some tablets. Despite these possible improvements, it is still likely that fortification will also be needed if a much higher percentage of women are to adequately comply with recommendations, especially before and in the very early stages of pregnancy.…”

Risk factors for abdominal wall defects

“…Potzsch et al showed that only 22% of young women knew that folic acid should be taken before and during pregnancy . The German Nutrition Society recommends 400 micrograms of folic acid intake per day to prevent neural tube defects and other congenital malformations.…”

“…Potzsch et al showed that only 22% of young women knew that folic acid should be taken before and during pregnancy. 19 The German…”