ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In 1992, the United States Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Institute of Medicine recommended periconceptional intake of 400 microg of folic acid (FA) in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTD) by 70%. Our objective was to assess among pregnant women the periconceptional intake of FA and to assess the level of knowledge among health professionals regarding the benefits associated with FA intake as a preventive measure of NTD. METHODS: We designed a prospective and cross-sectional study to assess certain sociodemographic and reproductive health characteristics, knowledge of periconceptional intake, benefits of FA intake among pregnant women and among health workers. Descriptive statistics was employed. RESULTS: From 200 pregnant women, only 1.7% had taken 400 microg doses of periconceptional FA. Among participating health care personnel only 10.17% knew about the benefits of periconceptional intake of 400 microg of FA. CONCLUSIONS: Periconceptional intake of FA among our sample of pregnant woman was very low and knowledge of its benefits among health professionals was also scarce.
Subject(s)
Folic Acid/therapeutic use , Prenatal Care , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Maternal-Child Health Centers , Mexico , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Urban Health , Young AdultABSTRACT
Antecedentes: En 1992, el Servicio de Salud Pública, la Academia Americana de Pediatría, los Centros para Control y Prevención de Enfermedades y el Instituto de Medicina de Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, señalaron que la ingesta materna periconcepcional de 400 μg de ácido fólico (AF) reduce el riesgo de los defectos de cierre del tubo neural en alrededor de 70%. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar en embarazadas la ingesta periconcepcional de AF y el conocimiento del equipo de salud del primer nivel de atención sobre el beneficio del AF para prevención de los defectos de cierre del tubo neural. Métodos: Se diseñó un estudio prospectivo y transversal para evaluar las características sociodemográficas y de salud reproductiva, así como el conocimiento del beneficio de la ingesta de AF en las mujeres embarazadas y en el equipo de salud. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva. Resultados: Entre 200 mujeres embarazadas, el 99.5% conocía que el AF previene malformaciones congénitas pero solo el 1.7% ingería 400 μg de AF en forma periconcepcional; en el equipo de salud solo 10.2% estaba al tanto de la ingesta periconcepcional de 400 μg de AF. Conclusiones: La ingesta periconcepcional de AF para prevenir defectos de cierre del tubo neural es mínima en las mujeres embarazadas de los centros de salud estudiados.
BACKGROUND: In 1992, the United States Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United States Institute of Medicine recommended periconceptional intake of 400 microg of folic acid (FA) in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTD) by 70%. Our objective was to assess among pregnant women the periconceptional intake of FA and to assess the level of knowledge among health professionals regarding the benefits associated with FA intake as a preventive measure of NTD. METHODS: We designed a prospective and cross-sectional study to assess certain sociodemographic and reproductive health characteristics, knowledge of periconceptional intake, benefits of FA intake among pregnant women and among health workers. Descriptive statistics was employed. RESULTS: From 200 pregnant women, only 1.7% had taken 400 microg doses of periconceptional FA. Among participating health care personnel only 10.17% knew about the benefits of periconceptional intake of 400 microg of FA. CONCLUSIONS: Periconceptional intake of FA among our sample of pregnant woman was very low and knowledge of its benefits among health professionals was also scarce.
