Abstract:
Background: In the precent study, firm evidences indicate that folic acid supplementation during the peri‑conceptional period
reduces the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects. Aim: To ascertain the level of awareness about folic acid, its use
during peri‑conceptional period and the predictive factors of folic acid awareness among pregnant women in our setting.
Subjects and Methods: Confidential, anonymous questionnaires were administered to consecutive 543 pregnant women seeking
routine antenatal care at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos between January and June 2012. Questions included enquiry on
their demographic features, obstetric history, pregnancy intention, awareness and intake of folic acid during the peri‑conceptional
period, and knowledge of its natural sources. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictive
factors of folic acid awareness were then performed. Results: Out of 543 pregnant women surveyed, 64.6% (351/543) reported
that they were aware of folic acid as a vitamin supplement. However, only 7.4% (26/351) consistently took the vitamin during the
protective periconceptional period. The common sources of information about folic acid were health workers (68.5%) and the
media (14.6%). Only 26.5% (93/351) of them could correctly identify a natural source of food rich in folic acid. Multivariate logistic
regression showed that maternal age >30 years (P=0.01) and higher educational status (P=0.001) were predictive factors for
folic acid awareness. Conclusion: Folic acid awareness as a vitamin supplement was relatively high among the women surveyed
but its intake during peri‑conceptional period was worryingly low. Antenatal and Population health educational strategies and
fortification of staple foods with folic acid may improve its intake among women of child‑bearing age in our setting.
