Few Danish pregnant women follow guidelines on periconceptional use of folic acid

TY - JOUR

T1 - Few Danish pregnant women follow guidelines on periconceptional use of folic acid

AU - Friberg, Anne Katrine Holflod

AU - Jørgensen, Finn Stener

PY - 2015/3

Y1 - 2015/3

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Approximately 60-70 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects (NTD) in Denmark annually. Folic acid (FA) deficiency can cause NTD. Periconceptional FA supplementation reduces the risk of NTD by up to 70-80%. Danish women planning pregnancy are recommended 0.4 mg of FA daily from at least one month before planned conception and continuing throughout the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to examine the knowledge about and use of FA supplementation among Danish pregnant women. METHODS: From 11 October 2012 to 15 November 2012, all women attending for a routine nuchal translucency scan were given a questionnaire regarding their knowledge and use of FA supplementation during their current pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 462 women answered the questionnaire. 95% had taken FA supplements at some point during their pregnancy, but only 10.4% as recommended. More than 80% stated knowledge about recommendations before the current pregnancy. Positive predictors of knowledge were: age > 30 years, multiparity, Danish origin and education > 3 years. CONCLUSION: Despite national recommendations on periconceptional FA supplementation, our study showed that women do not follow these recommendations. Especially women with a low socio-economic status were likely to lack knowledge about FA supplementation in relation to pregnancy. There is a need for revision of the existing national recommendations and for other initiatives aiming to improve women’s intake of FA, including FA fortification of flour and/or other food products.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Approximately 60-70 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects (NTD) in Denmark annually. Folic acid (FA) deficiency can cause NTD. Periconceptional FA supplementation reduces the risk of NTD by up to 70-80%. Danish women planning pregnancy are recommended 0.4 mg of FA daily from at least one month before planned conception and continuing throughout the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to examine the knowledge about and use of FA supplementation among Danish pregnant women. METHODS: From 11 October 2012 to 15 November 2012, all women attending for a routine nuchal translucency scan were given a questionnaire regarding their knowledge and use of FA supplementation during their current pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 462 women answered the questionnaire. 95% had taken FA supplements at some point during their pregnancy, but only 10.4% as recommended. More than 80% stated knowledge about recommendations before the current pregnancy. Positive predictors of knowledge were: age > 30 years, multiparity, Danish origin and education > 3 years. CONCLUSION: Despite national recommendations on periconceptional FA supplementation, our study showed that women do not follow these recommendations. Especially women with a low socio-economic status were likely to lack knowledge about FA supplementation in relation to pregnancy. There is a need for revision of the existing national recommendations and for other initiatives aiming to improve women’s intake of FA, including FA fortification of flour and/or other food products.

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Denmark

KW - Dietary Supplements

KW - Educational Status

KW - Female

KW - Folic Acid

KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

KW - Humans

KW - Medication Adherence

KW - Neural Tube Defects

KW - Nutrition Policy

KW - Parity

KW - Preconception Care

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Vitamin B Complex

KW - Young Adult

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25748861

SN - 2245-1919

VL - 62

SP - 1

EP - 4

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

IS - 3

ER -