engleski

Knowledge, attitude and practice of Croatian women regarding periconceptional folic acid intake - preliminary data

Background: The adequate periconceptional intake of folic acid (FA) prevents nerual tube defects and FA supplementation or food fortification are now officially recommended in many countries. There are still no official FA supplementation guidelines or laws regulating food fortification policy in Croatia. So far there are as well no studies in our country of awareness of women in childbearing age regarding FA supplementation. AIM: to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women regarding periconceptional FA intake in Croatia. METHODS: A total of 180 pregnant women completed the questionnaire during their attendance of prenatal clinic General Hospital "Sveti Duh", Zagreb, in February 2003. The questionnaire was anonymous and on vountary basis. RESULTS: The medium age was 29.8 years 29.8 years (+/- 3.6). 64% (115/180) of women were aware of FA role in preventing birth defects. They got information mostly from the media (50%), health professionals (37%) and friends (13%).Of those, 60% got the information too late, during (53%) or after the first pregnancy (7%). Most of them (86% ; 155/180) were not satisfied with acquired knowledge and wanted to know more. Of women interviewed, 69% (125/180) were taking FA, but only 25% (31/125) during appropriate periconceptional period despite the fact that actual pregnancies were largely planned (60% ; 108/180). Most of the women (72%) were not sure about the taken daily dosage. Women not taking FA (31% or 55/180) were less educated compared to the group of women taking FA (20% vs. 45% of women graduated from faculty or high school) (p<0.01). Parity, marital and economic status did not influence FA intake. From 108 planned pregnancies, only in 29%(31/108) FA was administered during adequate time period, while 31% (33/108) did not take FA at all. CONCLUSION: There is a strong need for public health education initiative with official recommendations from Croatian Paediatric and Gynaecologic Societies concerning FA supplementation in our country. The education initiative should be conducted by the health care professionals and targeted to the awareness of the childbearing population about the need of the introduction of the new dietary habits for the prevention of birth defects.

folic acid; supplementation; congenital abnormalities; neural tube defects; prevention

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