A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness, knowledge, and folic acid consumption before and during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a systematic review of studies designed to increase awareness of knowledge about, and consumption of folic acid before and during pregnancy.


METHODS
Studies were identified from Cochrane Library, Medline, and the references of primary studies and reviews.


METHODS
Studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental interrupted time series studies, follow-up studies, case-control studies, and before-and-after studies, all of which were conducted between 1992 and 2005 on women ages 15 to 49 years and/or health professionals, evaluating awareness and/or knowledge and/or consumption of folic acid both before and after intervention. Studies were excluded if data were not presented both before and after intervention or were other outcomes than those mentioned here.


METHODS
Data were extracted in relation to characteristics of studies, participants, interventions, and outcomes.


RESULTS
Because of heterogeneity, we performed a narrative synthesis describing the direction and the size of effects.


RESULTS
On average, women's awareness increased from 60% to 72%, knowledge from 21% to 45%, and consumption from 14% to 23%.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions had a positive effect on folic acid intakes before and during pregnancy, although the average usage reached less than 25%.
Chivu
Corina Mihaela
CM
Department of Research and Evaluation of Health Care System, National Institute for Research and Development in Health, Bucharest, Romania. corinam1001@yahoo.com
Tulchinsky
Theodore H
TH
Soares-Weiser
Karla
K
Braunstein
Rony
R
Brezis
Mayer
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D013997:Time Factors
D005492:Folic Acid