Knowledge and practices of pregnant women about folic acid in pregnancy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

East Mediterr Health J. 2010 Apr;16(4):402-7.

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge and practices about folic acid in pregnancy among pregnant women attending 2 main maternal and child health centres in Abu Dhabi. The majority of the 277 interviewed mothers (79.1%) had heard of folic acid and 46.6% had accurate knowledge about the role of folate in preventing neural tube defects. There were good practices regarding folate supplementation in the current pregnancy; most of the interviewed mothers took it daily and in the recommended dose. However, only a minority took it prior to pregnancy. Education, irrespective of age or parity, was the major factor determining better knowledge of folic acid in pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Educational Status
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / therapeutic use*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Neural Tube Defects / prevention & control*
  • Parity
  • Preconception Care
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnant Women / psychology*
  • Prenatal Care
  • Self Medication
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Urban Population
  • Vitamin B Complex / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Folic Acid