[Folic acid for neural tube defects prevention: consumption and information in fertil-age women in Centro Cuyo Region].
BACKGROUND
Neural tube defects are congenital malformations of brain and spinal cord. There is evidence that adequate amounts of folic acid supply to women before and during early pregnancy decreases the risk of having a neural tube defects affected child. Main sources of folic acid are food rich in folic acid, multivitamins with folic acid supplementation, and folic acid fortification of cereal products.


OBJECTIVE
To assess folic acid consumption from food and from medication in a group of mothers. To analyze their knowledge about using folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. To evaluate association between inadequate consumption and information, level of education, and concurrence to private or public health sector. To measure the amount of folic acid in bread sold within the region.


METHODS



METHODS
Observational cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Mothers of children under 2 months of age that were assisted by 38 pediatricians in five cities in the Region, collected between November 2006 and March 2007. Amount of folic acid in bread: bread samples acquired in the same cities.


CONCLUSIONS
327 surveys were collected. The average daily intake of folic acid from food was 481 Hg; 43,4% of women consume less than 400 Hg daily. Medical supplementation was suitable in 27,8% of the sample. 52,9% had appropriated knowledge about folic acid and prevention of neural tube defects. Differences were observed between mothers concurring to private or public health sector, and those who had or had not completed secondary school in relation to both supplementation and knowledge of folic acid. The media amount of folic acid in bread samples was 192,34 Hg / 100 g. All samples were manufactured with fortified flour.
Zabala
Rubén
R
Filial Río Cuarto, Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.
Waisman
Ingrid
I
Corelli
Marisel
M
Tobler
Betina
B
Bonora
Laura
L
Cappato
Frida
F
Cardetti
Marcelo
M
Cervera
Mercedes
M
Chepparo
Cristina
C
Costero
Alejandra
A
Demarco
Ricardo
R
Dieser
Pablo
P
Domínguez
Alicia
A
Dutto
Rosana
R
Encinas
María Ester
ME
Fiol
Ana Laura
AL
Gatica
Cristina
C
Giordano
María Alejandra
MA
González Achával
Dora
D
González
María Luisa
ML
Grassi
Carmen
C
Machi
Alejandra
A
Martínez Colombres
Raúl
R
Meersohn
Mónica
M
Merlo
Marta
M
Miranda
Daniel
D
Nanzer
Jorgelina
J
Núñez
José María
JM
Pedano
Luis
L
Pérez Pazo
Andrea
A
Puscama
Alicia
A
Ramos
Eduardo Raúl
ER
Rosso
Julieta
J
Rubio
Alejandra
A
Santinelli
Irene
I
Sfreddo
Arturo
A
Silenzi
Gerardo
G
Sobral
Amalia
A
Trigo
Mónica
M
Tuninetti
Bibiana
B
Urrea
Silvina
S
Zabala
Rubén
R