Folic acid intake of young women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the folic acid intake of young women ages 18-24.


METHODS
Nonexperimental, descriptive survey.


METHODS
Small private college in western North Carolina.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 42 female college students ages 18-24.


METHODS
Survey of demographics, folic acid intake, knowledge of folic acid, and pregnancy contemplation.


RESULTS
All participants were found to have an inadequate diet and an inadequate intake of folic acid. Only 33.3% reported taking daily multivitamins. These findings may be attributed to the participants' lack of knowledge about folic acid and the birth defects it helps to prevent.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate folic acid intake is common in young women ages 18-24. These young women frequently have poor nutritional habits and are usually noncontemplators of pregnancy.
Hilton
Judith J
JJ
Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NC 28603, USA. hiltonj@lrc.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D009657:North Carolina; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D005492:Folic Acid