Assessing awareness, knowledge and use of folic acid in Kansas women between the ages of 18 and 44 years.
Taking folic acid daily, before and during early pregnancy, has been proven to reduce neural tube birth defects (NTD). Unfortunately, many women fail to take it daily as recommended.


OBJECTIVE
To assess women's self-reported awareness, knowledge and use of folic acid. Methods Data were obtained by cross-sectional, random digit-dialing, computer-assisted telephone interviews with 250 women in Kansas. Associations were determined by chi-squared analysis.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight percent of childbearing age women in Kansas have a general awareness of folic acid, 20% have knowledge that it reduces birth defects, but only 25% report taking it daily. Awareness was associated with high school or greater education (P < .0001), incomes over $25,000 (P = 0.0003), being married (P = 0.0035), being white (P = 0.0135), having health insurance (P = 0.0152) and being capable of pregnancy (P = 0.0119). Knowledge that folic acid reduces birth defects was associated with being aware of the USPHS recommendation (P < .0001), being capable of pregnancy (P = 0.0043), being pregnant (P = 0.0061), and being aware of folic acid (P = 0.0379). Taking folic acid daily was associated with currently being pregnant (P = 0.0126).


CONCLUSIONS
Women less likely to take folic acid on a daily basis were young, non-Caucasians who reported less education, less income and no health insurance. Based upon these data, multi-level education campaigns that specifically target lower-SES women should be considered.
Sharp
Glynda F
GF
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, 1750 Independence Ave., Kansas City, MO 64106, USA. gsharp@kcumb.edu
Naylor
Lorenda A
LA
Cai
Jinwen
J
Hyder
Melissa L
ML
Chandra
Pradeep
P
Guillory
V James
VJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D005492:Folic Acid