Knowledge and use of folic acid for birth defect prevention among women of childbearing age in Shanghai, China: a prospective cross-sectional study

Knowledge and utilisation of preconception care and associated factors among women in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Preconception care is the provision of biomedical, behavioural, and social health interventions provided to women and couples before conception. However, in Ethiopia, little is known and practised to support preconception care. Therefore, this study aimed to assess women's knowledge and utilisation of preconception care and its associated factors in Ethiopia using systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHOD

In the current meta-analysis, variables were searched from different electronic database systems, which included PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, HINAR, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Grey literature. Data were extracted using a standardised data collection measurement tool. The data were analysed by using STATA 14 statistical software. I² tests assessed heterogeneity between the studies. A random-effect model was used to forecast the pooled knowledge and utilisation of preconception care.

RESULTS

Thirteen full-text studies were included. The pooled prevalence of knowledge and utilisation of preconception care among women in Ethiopia was 30.95% and 16.27% respectivelly. Secondary education (OR = 2.78, 95% CI,2.01-3.85), college and above (OR = 5.05, 95% CI,2.70-9.44), and antenatal care (OR = 3.89, 95% CI, 1.69-8.98) were significantly associated with knowledge level whereas; age (OR = 2.43, 95% CI, 1.30-4.53) and knowledge on preconception care (OR = 3.95, 95% CI,2.35-6.62) were positively associated with utilisation of preconception.

CONCLUSIONS

Women's level of knowledge and utilisation of preconception care was significantly low. Educational status and antenatal care follow-up were factors shown to affect knowledge of preconception care. Age and having a sound knowledge of preconception care indicated a significant association towards utilisation of preconception care. Thus, integrating preconception care strategies and policies that can address all the components of preconception care services with other maternal and child health services will be essential when designing effective implementation strategies to improve preconception care uptake. Besides this, advocating for better education for women, awareness creation, and increasing antenatal care services are essential. Prospero registration: CRD42020218062.

Knowledge, attitude and practice level of women at the periconceptional period: a cross-sectional study in Shaanxi China

Background

Identifying and understanding the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) level of women at the periconceptional period has implications for formulating and measuring the adverse pregnancy outcomes for primary prevention.

Methods

A cross-sectional study among pregestational and pregnant women was conducted in Shaanxi during 2016–2017.

Results

Among 791 participants, the average score of periconceptional healthcare knowledge awareness was 6.32 ± 1.78, whereas 28.8% of women have failed. Women who planned to or had undergone premarital and pre-pregnancy examinations accounted for 50.2, and 62.5%, respectively. Less than half (42.0%) of the women started taking folic acid (FA) before pregnancy, and only 37.9% of them took FA regularly at the right time. Multivariate analysis showed that age was the main factor influencing the Attitude and Practice level of women at the periconceptional period, and demonstrated a positive effect on the awareness of right timing of folic acid supplementation, and high rates of premarital and pre-pregnancy examinations. Also, the knowledge pass rate was increased with education level. Fewer women who have birth experience were willing to take FA consistently at the right time compared to those women without birth.

Conclusions

The women at the periconceptional period in Shaanxi lacked the total KAP level of periconceptional healthcare, especially those who live in rural areas and have less education. Government agencies should reinforce more effective primary preventive measures and policies for the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-019-2481-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Women's Awareness and Associated Factors on Preconception Folic Acid Supplementation in Adet, Northwestern Ethiopia, 2016: Implication of Reproductive Health

Introduction

Preconception folic acid supplementation is the provision of folate for reproductive age group women who have a plan to be pregnant. According to different studies, in African countries, there is poor utilization of preconception folic supplementation. So this study aimed at assessing women's awareness on preconception care and its associated factors in Adet, Northwestern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to April 1, 2016, among 422 reproductive age group women. Systematic random sampling was used to get the study unit, and the data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire via face-to-face interview. The collected data were entered, cleaned, checked using EpiData version 3.1, and finally analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive summary of the data was presented in terms of percentage and frequency. Binary and multiple logistic regressions were used in order to identify predictors using odds ratio at 95% confidence interval.

Result

In this study, a total of 422 reproductive age group women participated with a response rate of 100%. Of a total of 422 participants, 67 (15.9%) of the women had good awareness on preconception folic acid supplementation. Women's awareness on preconception folic acid supplementation was affected by having a chronic health problem, monthly household income, educational status, and a history of family planning use. Women who were educated (AOR 4.77, CI 1.85-6.98), had a history of family planning use (AOR 3.89, CI 1.77-8.55), had a chronic health problem (AOR 3.47, CI 2.68-5.98), and had a better monthly income (AOR 2.6, CI 2.05-6.76) had good awareness than their counterparts.

Conclusion and Recommendation

This study concluded that women's awareness on preconception folic acid supplementation was low. This finding suggests that there is a need to give emphasis and deliver health education about preconception folic acid supplementation for women.

Socioeconomic inequality in periconceptional folic acid supplementation in China: a census of 0.9 million women in their first trimester of pregnancy

Background

To assess socioeconomic inequality in periconceptional folic acid supplementation in China.

Methods

We used data of periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation of rural Chinese women from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project from 2010 to 2012 and socioeconomic level data from the National Bureau of Statistics. We used logistic models to assess the associations between the prevalence of taking FA and the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the couples, and the socioeconomic levels of their region of residence.

Results

Of the 907,720 included women, 682,315 (75.62%) of the women reported taking FA. The prevalence of FA supplementation was significantly higher in participants aged 21–29 (75.87%) than in those women aged 40–49 (68.44%, p < 0.01). The prevalence of FA supplementation was significantly higher in the region with the highest Per Capita Gross Regional Product than in the regions with lower Per Capita Gross Regional Product (aOR = 12.20 [95% CI:9.54–15.61]). The higher the per capita net income of farmer households in the region, the higher the prevalence of FA supplementation (aOR = 1.95 [95% CI:1.74–2.18]).

Conclusions

The rate of periconceptional FA supplementation among rural Chinese women has increased with the support of China’s Health System Reform policy. However, socioeconomic disparities in periconceptional folic acid supplementation remain.

Consumption of dietary supplements by Chinese women during pregnancy and postpartum: A prospective cohort study

The objectives of this study were to investigate usage patterns and factors associated with maternal dietary supplementation by Chinese women. A prospective cohort study of 695 mothers, who gave birth to a singleton baby, was conducted in Jiangyou, Sichuan Province of China. Information on dietary supplement use was collected from participants by personal interview at hospital discharge and followed up by telephone at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum. Logistic regression analysis and generalised linear-mixed modelling were performed to determine factors affecting dietary supplementation during pregnancy and the first 6 months postpartum, respectively. A total of 81.8 and 32.1% of women consumed dietary supplements during pregnancy and postpartum, respectively. Calcium was the most popular supplement (pregnancy 63.9%; postpartum 28.1%), whereas folic acid was only taken during pregnancy (62.3%) with an average usage duration of 2.5 (standard deviation 1.3) months among users. High school and above education, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.63, 4.38], and attendance at prenatal classes (adjusted OR = 1.99, 95% CI [1.05, 3.76]) were associated with dietary supplementation during pregnancy. Mothers with a higher level of education (adjusted OR = 3.10, 95% CI [1.81, 5.30]) were also more likely to use dietary supplements in the postpartum period. Although dietary supplementation appeared to be common among Chinese mothers, maternal intake of folic acid was well below the guidelines. There is a need for further nutrition education on maternal use of micronutrient supplements, especially targeting mothers who are less educated.

Peri-conceptional supplementation of folic acid-knowledge and practices of pregnant women and health providers

Context:

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common congenital anomalies. NTDs are preventable if folic acid (FA) is supplemented before and during conception. Knowledge and supplementation of FA by pregnant women as well as it's timely provision by health providers is crucial in reducing the burden of NTDs in the community.

Aim:

To study the knowledge and supplementation of FA by pregnant women and it's prescription/provision by health providers.

Settings and Design:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the block Doiwala, District Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Subjects and Methods:

A total of 400 pregnant women and 121 government health providers (5 medical officers, 25 auxiliary nurse midwives [ANMs], and 91 accredited social health activists [ASHAs]) were interviewed on predesigned, pretested questionnaire by study/field investigator.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Proportion of different variables calculated and Chi-square test with Yates correction was applied.

Results:

Of 400, 73.50% of women had heard of FA. Overall, knowledge scores suggested intermediate to low level of knowledge about FA. Totally 94.25% of women had planned pregnancies; however, only 4.75% of women reported FA supplementation before conception. This indicates that if these women would have been properly counseled and prescribed FA, they might have taken it. About 60% of medical officers, 4% of ANMs, and 3.3% of ASHAs knew FA deficiency as one of the causes of NTD. None of the health providers reported to be prescribing/counseling FA to pregnant women. FA was out of supply on the block at the time of the study.

Conclusions:

Knowledge and supplementation practices related with FA are poor.

Pre-conceptional intake of folic acid supplements is inversely associated with risk of preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age birth: a prospective cohort study

Associations of folic acid supplementation with risk of preterm birth (PTB) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth were unclear for the Chinese populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations in a large Chinese prospective cohort study: the Jiaxing Birth Cohort. In the Jiaxing Birth Cohort, 240 954 pregnant women visited local clinics or hospitals within their first trimester in Southeast China during 1999-2012. Information on anthropometric parameters, folic acid supplementation and other maternal characteristics were collected by in-person interviews during their first visit. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded during the follow-up of these participants. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association of folic acid supplementation with pregnancy outcomes. The prevalence of folic acid supplementation was 24·9% in the cohort. The prevalence of PTB and SGA birth was 3·48 and 9·2%, respectively. Pre-conceptional folic acid supplementation was associated with 8% lower risk of PTB (relative risk (RR) 0·92; 95% CI 0·85, 1·00; P=0·04) and 19% lower risk of SGA birth (RR 0·81; 95% CI 0·70, 0·95; P=0·008), compared with non-users. Higher frequency of pre-conceptional folic acid use was associated with lower risk of PTB (P trend=0·032) and SGA birth (P trend=0·046). No significant association between post-conceptional initiation of folic acid supplementation and either outcome was observed. In conclusion, the present study suggests an association between pre-conceptional, but not post-conceptional, folic acid supplementation and lower risk of PTB and SGA birth in the Jiaxing Birth Cohort. Further research in other cohorts of large sample size is needed to replicate these findings.

Women participating in a web-based preconception study have a high prevalence of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes

Background

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) can be increased by preconception risk factors and lifestyles.

We measured the prevalence of preconception risk factors for APOs in a population of Italian women of childbearing age enrolled in a web-based study.

Methods

Participants were enrolled through a web platform (http://www.mammainforma.it). After enrollment, participants filled in a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data and preconception risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Through logistic regression, we explored how the prevalence of risk factors was affected by age, education level, employment, parity, physician’s recommendation and knowledge of the specific risk factor.

Results

We enrolled a total of 728 women. Sixty-two percent had a University degree, 84% were employed and 77% were planning their first pregnancy.

Nearly 70% drank alcohol in any quantity; 16% were smokers; 6% was underweight; 21.4% was overweight; 51.6% did not assume folic acid; 22% was susceptible to rubella, 44.5% to hepatitis b and 13.2% to varicella.

According to the multivariate analysis, compared to women who already had at least one pregnancy, nulliparous women had a higher BMI [OR 1.60 (CI 1.02;2.48)] and were less likely to be susceptible to rubella [OR 0.33 (CI 0.20;0.58)] and to be consuming alcohol [OR 0.47 (CI 0.31;0.70)] or cigarettes [OR 0.48 (CI 0.26;0.90)].

Appropriate knowledge was associated with a correct behavior regarding smoking, drinking alcohol and folic acid supplementation.

Conclusions

This study shows that the prevalence of risk factors for APOs in our population is high.

Interventions aimed at reducing risk factors for APOs are needed and, to this purpose, a web intervention may represent a feasible tool to integrate tailored information and to inform preconception counseling targeting a specific group of women planning a pregnancy who are engaged on the web.

Association between low-dose folic acid supplementation and blood lipids concentrations in male and female subjects with atherosclerosis risk factors

Background

Folic acid (FA) is one of the B complex vitamins. It is thought that FA deficiency promotes atherosclerosis formation in arterial endothelium. FA, acting through reducing homocysteine (Hcy) levels, may contribute to decreased cholesterol (Ch) synthesis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the association of low-dose folic acid supplementation with blood lipids concentrations in subjects with atherosclerosis risk factors.

Material/Methods

The study enrolled 124 Caucasian individuals (60 M, ages 20–39; and 64 F, ages 19–39) with atherosclerosis risk factors (family history of premature ischemic stroke, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, overweight and obesity, cigarette smoking, and low level of physical activity). The participants were asked to take FA at a low dose of 0.4 mg/24 h for 12 weeks.

Results

FA levels increased in females (6.3 vs. 12.5 ng/dL; p=0.001) and males (6.4 vs. 11.4 ng/dL; p=0.001) and Hcy levels decreased (10.6 vs. 8.3 μmol/L; p=0.001 and 11.5 vs. 9.3; p=0.001, respectively). A significant reduction in mean concentration of total cholesterol in females (203.4 vs. 193.1 mg/dL; p=0.001) and in males (209.5 vs. 201.9; p=0.002) was observed. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased in females and in males (107.4 vs. 99.9 mg/dL; p=0.001 and 121.5 vs. 115.1; p=0.002, respectively). The apoAI concentrations increased in smoking women and in men with BMI ≥25 kg/m² (p=0.032 and p=0.024, respectively).

Conclusions

Low-dose FA supplementation has a beneficial effect on blood lipids through decreasing concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-C and increasing concentrations of apoAI.