Knowledge and practices of pregnant women about folic acid in pregnancy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
This study assessed the knowledge and practices about folic acid in pregnancy among pregnant women attending 2 main maternal and child health centres in Abu Dhabi. The majority of the 277 interviewed mothers (79.1%) had heard of folic acid and 46.6% had accurate knowledge about the role of folate in preventing neural tube defects. There were good practices regarding folate supplementation in the current pregnancy; most of the interviewed mothers took it daily and in the recommended dose. However, only a minority took it prior to pregnancy. Education, irrespective of age or parity, was the major factor determining better knowledge of folic acid in pregnancy.
Al-Hossani
H
H
Central Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. hager@emirates.net.ae
Abouzeid
H
H
Salah
M M
MM
Farag
H M
HM
Fawzy
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010298:Parity; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012651:Self Medication; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014505:Urban Population; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid