[Administration of folic acid and other micronutrients to pregnant women in Colombia]. / Administración de ácido fólico y otros micronutrientes en mujeres embarazadas de Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the intake of folic acid (FA) and other micronutrients in medicinal form in a group of pregnant women in Colombia. METHODS: Descriptive observational study. Information was obtained from interviews of pregnant women and from the clinical records of their prenatal check-ups and/or delivery in four cities in Colombia. The sample consisted of 1 637 women seen in 15 institutions. RESULTS: A total of 1 315 pregnant women (80.3%) were advised to take FA, and 84% received a prescription, 90.3% of whom adhered to the treatment. FA was provided to 85.6% of them by their health insurance company and 10.7% purchased it themselves. The prescription was appropriate for 0.2% of the women; its use was entirely appropriate for 0.2% of the pregnant women and totally inappropriate for 41.9%. Other micronutrients were recommended to 1 192 women (72.8%), 77.6% of whom received the advice from their physician, with 88.7% adhering to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: FA and other micronutrients are inappropriately recommended to pregnant women and taken without assessing their individual needs. The usefulness of programs that promote mass consumption of micronutrients in medicinal form during pregnancy should be reexamined. These programs seem not to recognize the fundamental causes of the population's nutritional problems.

Administración de ácido fólico y otros micronutrientes en mujeres embarazadas de Colombia / Administration of folic acid and other micronutrients to pregnant women in Colombia

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar el consumo de ácido fólico (AF) y otros micronutrientes en forma de medicamentos en un grupo de mujeres gestantes colombianas. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional descriptivo. Se obtuvo información por medio de entrevistas a gestantes y de sus registros de historia clínica de control prenatal y/o atención del parto en cuatro ciudades de Colombia. La muestra fue de 1 637 mujeres atendidas en 15 instituciones. RESULTADOS: A 1 315 gestantes (80,3%) les recomendaron consumir AF, con prescripción realizada por médico al 84% de ellas; 90,3% adhirieron al tratamiento. A 85,6% el AF les fue suministrado por la empresa aseguradora de salud, y 10,7% lo compró de su bolsillo. La prescripción fue pertinente en 0,2% de las mujeres. Su consumo fue totalmente oportuno en 0,2% y totalmente inoportuno en 41,9% de las gestantes. A 1 192 mujeres (72,8%) les recomendaron otros micronutrientes; a 77,6% de ellas se los recomendó el médico, y 88,7% adhirieron al tratamiento. CONCLUSIONES: Se recomienda y se consume AF y otros micronutrientes de manera inadecuada, sin evaluar las necesidades individuales de las mujeres gestantes. Se invita a reflexionar sobre la utilidad de los programas que promueven el consumo masivo de micronutrientes en forma de medicamento durante el embarazo; los programas parecen desconocer las causas fundamentales de los problemas nutricionales que aquejan a la población.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the intake of folic acid (FA) and other micronutrients in medicinal form in a group of pregnant women in Colombia. METHODS: Descriptive observational study. Information was obtained from interviews of pregnant women and from the clinical records of their prenatal check-ups and/or delivery in four cities in Colombia. The sample consisted of 1 637 women seen in 15 institutions. RESULTS: A total of 1 315 pregnant women (80.3%) were advised to take FA, and 84% received a prescription, 90.3% of whom adhered to the treatment. FA was provided to 85.6% of them by their health insurance company and 10.7% purchased it themselves. The prescription was appropriate for 0.2% of the women; its use was entirely appropriate for 0.2% of the pregnant women and totally inappropriate for 41.9%. Other micronutrients were recommended to 1 192 women (72.8%), 77.6% of whom received the advice from their physician, with 88.7% adhering to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: FA and other micronutrients are inappropriately recommended to pregnant women and taken without assessing their individual needs. The usefulness of programs that promote mass consumption of micronutrients in medicinal form during pregnancy should be reexamined. These programs seem not to recognize the fundamental causes of the population's nutritional problems.

Uso de hierro en forma de medicamento en gestantes colombianas / Pregnant Colombian females' iron in take in drug form

Objetivo Caracterizar el consumo de hierro en forma de medicamento en un grupo de embarazadas colombianas. Metodología Estudio observacional descriptivo, se obtuvo información de mujeres en control prenatal y/o atención del parto en 4 ciudades de Colombia. Las fuentes de información fueron entrevistas a gestantes y registros de historia clínica. Resultados La muestra fue de 1 637 mujeres en 15 instituciones. A 1 396 mujeres (85,3 %) les recomendaron consumir hierro, recomendación realizada por médico al 85,3 % de ellas, el 86,8 % tuvo adherencia al tratamiento. Al 84,7 % el hierro fue suministrado por la empresa aseguradora de salud, el 11,9 % lo compró a sus expensas. El 90,0 % de gestantes anémicas y el 82,8 % de las no anémicas consumieron hierro en forma de medicamento, en conjunto, en el 37,2 % de las gestantes el consumo de suplencia de hierro fue pertinente (es decir, lo necesitaban, se les recomendó y lo consumieron o no le necesitaban, no se recomendó y/o no lo consumieron). Discusión Se recomienda y se consume hierro independientemente de presentar anemia. Se invita a reflexionar sobre la utilidad de los programas que promueven el consumo masivo de esta sustancia en forma de medicamento durante el embarazo, programas que parecen desconocer las causas fundamentales de los problemas nutricionales que aquejan a la población.

Objective Describing a group of pregnant Colombian females' iron intake, in drug form. Methodology This was an observational descriptive study; information was collected in 4 Colombian cities regarding pregnant females during antenatal control or when giving birth. Information sources consisted of interviews with pregnant women and their clinical records. Results The sample consisted of 1,637 female sat tending 15 institutions. An iron intake was recommended for1, 396 women (85.3 %); a doctor made such recommendation in 85.3 % of cases and adherence was 86.8 %. Health insurance was used by 84.7 % of the females for supplying iron; 11.9 % of them bought it themselves. Iron intake as medication for anemic pregnant females was 90.0 % and 82.8 % in non-anemic ones. Iron intake supply was appropriate in 37.2 % of the pregnant females (i.e. they needed it, someone recommended it for them and they consumed it, or they didn't need it, someone didn't recommend it to them and/or they did not take it). Discussion Iron intake was recommended and consumed regardless of anemia status. The results invite to think on the usefulness of programs promoting the mass intake of iron as a medication during pregnancy. Such programs seem to be unaware of the fundamental causes of people's nutritional problems.

[Pregnant Colombian females' iron intake in drug form]. / Uso de hierro en forma de medicamento en gestantes colombianas.

OBJECTIVE: Describing a group of pregnant Colombian females' iron intake, in drug form. METHODOLOGY: This was an observational descriptive study; information was collected in 4 Colombian cities regarding pregnant females during antenatal control or when giving birth. Information sources consisted of interviews with pregnant women and their clinical records. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1,637 females attending 15 institutions. An iron intake was recommended for 1, 396 women (85.3 %); a doctor made such recommendation in 85.3 % of cases and adherence was 86.8 %. Health insurance was used by 84.7 % of the females for supplying iron; 11.9 % of them bought it themselves. Iron intake as medication for anemic pregnant females was 90.0 % and 82.8 % in non-anemic ones. Iron intake supply was appropriate in 37.2 % of the pregnant females (i.e. they needed it, someone recommended it for them and they consumed it, or they didn't need it, someone didn't recommend it to them and/or they did not take it). DISCUSSION: Iron intake was recommended and consumed regardless of anemia status. The results invite to think on the usefulness of programs promoting the mass intake of iron as a medication during pregnancy. Such programs seem to be unaware of the fundamental causes of people's nutritional problems.