Folic acid use by women receiving routine gynecologic care.
OBJECTIVE
Many health professional groups recommend folic acid supplementation for all women able to become pregnant. In this study, we document folic acid supplement use among a sample of women receiving routine gynecologic care.


METHODS
A short questionnaire was administered to 322 women aged 18-45 years who were seeking routine gynecologic care at participating clinics in Little Rock, Arkansas. Questions covered knowledge and use of folic acid supplements, pregnancy intention, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Primary study outcomes were self-reported folic acid awareness, daily or weekly use of folic acid supplements, and intention to begin taking folic acid. Factors affecting study outcomes were examined individually by computing crude odd ratios and adjusted for other covariates using unconditional logistic regression.


RESULTS
Although 61.8% of women reported awareness of the association between folic acid and birth defects prevention, only 27.1% of these women, and 22.7% of all study participants, reported daily use of a folic acid supplement. Substantially more women (39.8%) were taking a folic acid supplement at least once per week. Age, race, educational level, folic acid awareness, marital status, pregnancy intent, and other preventive health behaviors were the most important predictors of compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate a need for targeted interventions directed toward minority women, young women, and those of lower socioeconomic and educational status. The routine gynecologic visit is an ideal opportunity to counsel women of reproductive age to take folic acid daily.


METHODS
III
Cleves
Mario A
MA
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202-3591, USA. clevesmarioa@uams.edu
Hobbs
Charlotte A
CA
Collins
H Breck
HB
Andrews
Nancy
N
Smith
Laura N
LN
Robbins
James M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D014932:Women's Health Services
D006397:Hematinics; D005492:Folic Acid