A comparison of folic acid awareness and intake among young women aged 18-24 years.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate public understanding of the importance of folic acid intake in young women aged 18-24 years.


METHODS
A written questionnaire designed by the researcher was administered to 138 young women aged 18-24 years attending college or those seeking care in the county health facility. A total of 88 complete questionnaires were used for the data analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Young women were not aware of the importance of folic acid, were not taking multivitamins containing folic acid, and were not consuming enough folic acid in their diets. No relationship existed between pregnancy intention and folic acid intake, suggesting that those who were planning a pregnancy in the near future were not consuming adequate amounts of folic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
A lack of knowledge regarding the importance of folic acid may lead to poor pregnancy outcomes. Many educational opportunities exist and should be developed in clinics, physician's offices, and classes which involve young women in this age group.
Hilton
Judith Johnson
JJ
Lenoir-Rhyne College, Maternal-Child Nursing, Hickory, North Carolin 28601, USA. hiltonj@lrc.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009657:North Carolina; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology
D005492:Folic Acid