An evaluation of the recording of folic acid use in the South West Congenital Anomaly Register.
OBJECTIVE
Some congenital anomaly registers are collecting data on risk factors for pregnancies affected by anomalies; yet the quality of that information is rarely assessed. We assessed the quality of the risk factor data in the South West Congenital Anomaly Register (SWCAR) through a review of the data held on folic acid use, in cases of neural tube defect (NTD).


METHODS
We reviewed all cases of NTD reported to SWCAR over 2 years and compared information held in the register with that in handwritten and computerised prenatal records, where available.


RESULTS
Data on folic acid use was recorded in only 41 (36.9%) of the prenatal records of the 111 cases of NTDs reviewed. Information on any folic acid use in the prenatal records was transferred to the register in all instances where it existed. Information on the time of taking folic acid or not taking folic acid was rarely recorded in prenatal records.


CONCLUSIONS
Incomplete recording of folic acid use and timing in prenatal records has limited the ability of SWCAR to collect accurate information on folic acid use in cases of NTDs. Minimal recording information on folic acid use in prenatal records is suggested.
Department of Public Health, University of the West of England, Stapleton, Bristol, UK. Julie.Mytton@uwe.ac.uk
J
J
Mytton
V
V
Harrison
A
A
McLoughlin
R
R
Thompson
T
T
Overton
D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D005492:Folic Acid