Knowledge on periconceptional use of folic acid in women of British Columbia.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the knowledge of folic acid and its use preconceptionally in women of British Columbia.


METHODS
The study was conducted at British Columbia Women's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada, between April 15 and June 15, 1999. Pregnant women and women in the postpartum period were asked to complete a survey on folic acid.


RESULTS
In total, 1,004 women completed the questionnaire during the study period. Seventy-one percent of the women knew that vitamins could help prevent birth defects. Of those, 76.3% identified folic acid as the one vitamin specifically associated with reduction of birth defects. It was identified that 49.4% of all women took vitamins prior to pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Women in the population studied were relatively well informed about the benefits of folic acid, but less than 50% of them took vitamins prior to conception.
Morin
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Children's and Women's Health Center of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. morinvalerie@hotmail.com
Mondor
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Wilson
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RD
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001955:British Columbia; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D010298:Parity; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid