Prevalence of folic acid supplement consumption before and during pregnancy, and its determinants among community health center referrals

A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators for Preconception Care: Lessons for Global Health Policies and Programs

Preconception care (PCC) encompasses a set of actions taken before pregnancy to support the health and well-being of women before conception to improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. The utilization of PCC services is influenced by multifaceted factors that can either enable or impede women's capacity to access and utilize them effectively. This scoping review examines the barriers and facilitators influencing the utilization of PCC services among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) at both individual and community levels. Through an extensive review of published articles from 2004 to 2021, including peer-reviewed sources, barriers and facilitators were identified. At the individual level, barriers included limited knowledge about PCC, neglect of self-health, and financial constraints. Community-level barriers encompassed insufficient supply of supplements, restricted access to health care, high health care costs, and setbacks due to delayed delivery of MCH services. Conversely, individuals reported that credible sources of information, such as friends, family, and community health volunteers, facilitated their engagement with PCC services. At the community level, facilitators included government-regulated supply chains for supplements and the involvement of community workers in health monitoring. Understanding and addressing these factors can help improve the utilization of PCC services among women of reproductive age (WRA) and improve MCH outcomes.

Risk factors of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT): Exposure to mobile phones during pregnancy

Background/aim

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract(CAKUT) are the leading causes of childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD). The etiology of most of the cases is thought to be multifactorial. In this study, risk factors for CAKUT and the effect of mobile phone-related electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure during pregnancy were investigated.

Materials and methods

Fifty-seven cases and 57 healthy controls under 2 years of age were included and their mothers were subjected to a questionnaire. Groups were compared for parents' demographics, pregestational (chronic disease, body mass index, use of the folic acid supplements) and antenatal variables (gestational disease, weight gain during pregnancy,) and exposures during pregnancy. To assess mobile phone-related radiation exposure, all participants were asked about their daily call time, the proximity of the phone when not in use, and the models of their mobile phones. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of the mobile phones and the effective SAR value (SAR × call time) as an indicator of EMF exposure were recorded.

Results

Excess weight gain according to BMI during pregnancy was related to an increased risk of CAKUT (p=0.012). Folic acid use before pregnancy was protective for CAKUT (p = 0.028). The call time of mothers of the CAKUT group was significantly longer than the control (p = 0.001). An association was observed between higher effective SAR values and increased risk of CAKUT (p = 0.03). However the proximity of the mobile phone to the mother's body when not in use was not found as a risk factor.

Conclusion

The etiology of CAKUT is multifactorial. Our results suggest that prolonged phone call and higher EMF exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of CAKUT in the offspring.