title: Knowledge and practices of pregnant women about folic acid in pregnancy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. hager@emirates.net.ae
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Hossani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abouzeid
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Farag
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fawzy
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid