title: A survey of preconceptional folic acid use in a group of Canadian women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that periconceptional folic acid supplementation has a dramatic effect in reducing neural tube defects, one of the most serious congenital anomalies. Unfortunately, supplementation tends to be suboptimal in disadvantaged populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective was to determine patient factors associated with a lack of use of periconceptional folic acid among Canadian women in a multi-ethnic, urban setting. Our secondary objective was to assess patient knowledge about folic acid tablet supplementation and its link to reduced birth defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional study to survey postpartum Toronto women on their use and knowledge of periconceptional folic acid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 383 women surveyed, only 28% took folic acid or a multivitamin containing folic acid during the periconceptional period. Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of periconceptional folic acid was more common among women of Jewish descent (adjusted relative risk [RR] 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.9) and those who had 1 or no children (adjusted RR 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.8). Not taking folic acid was associated with unplanned pregnancy (adjusted RR 1.5; 95% CI, 1.4-1.6) and a lack of knowledge about when folic acid should be taken (adjusted RR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6-1.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethnic background is an independent predictor of periconceptional folic acid use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Scarborough General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Larissa E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Shi Wu
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Graeme N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Rory C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Windrim
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid