Folic acid awareness among female college students: neural tube defects prevention.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the level of awareness among female college students on the importance of preconception folic acid supplementation in preventing neural tube defects (NTDs). We have also studied their response after educating them.


METHODS
This is a questionnaire-based study. Five hundreds questionnaires were distributed to the female students of the 3 colleges, namely, Humanities, Sciences, and Health in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2008. The questions included an enquiry on their knowledge regarding the importance of folic acid preconception, and if they will implement what they learned after listening to lectures, delivered by the 4th year medical students, who were trained and supervised by the faculty members of the King Abdul-Aziz University.


RESULTS
Two hundred and seventeen questionnaires were filled, and returned (43.4%). Mean age +/- SD was 20.96 +/- 2.25 years. Almost 88% were not aware of the importance of folic acid in preventing NTDs. After listening to the lecture, 82.9% thought that they will surely use folic acid preconception, and 98.6% will relay the important message about the importance of folic acid to others.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to increase the awareness of the importance of folic acid among females' childbearing age. Medical students' involvement in educating college students was an effective way to increase their awareness. Similar educating programs are required, in order to reduce the high incidence of NTDs.
Kari
Jameela A
JA
Princess Al-Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorder, King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. jkari@doctors.org.uk
Bardisi
Ekhlas S
ES
Baitalmal
Rabaa M
RM
Ageely
Ghofran A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid