title: Evaluation of calcium and folic acid supplementation in prenatal care in São Paulo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia and neural tube defects can be prevented during pregnancy. Today, there is level I evidence showing that calcium supplementation during pregnancy may prevent preeclampsia and that use of folic acid may prevent neural tube defects. The aim here was to evaluate the proportion of patients undergoing prenatal follow-up who had received a prescription for calcium and/or folic acid supplementation, and their adherence to the use of these two substances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study at two hospitals in the Greater São Paulo region, Brazil (Faculdade de Medicina da Fundação ABC, Santo André, and "Dr. Mário de Moraes Altenfelder Silva" Municipal Teaching and Maternity Hospital, Vila Nova Cachoeirinha).
  
  
  METHODS
  Early primigravidae, late primigravidae and pregnant women with chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus or kidney disease who had already had their first prenatal consultation were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 250 pregnant women interviewed, 10.40% had received a prescription for calcium supplementation and 80.76% of them reported taking it in tablet form. Regarding folic acid, 48% of the women said that they had received a prescription for this and 64.16% reported that they had started to use it during the periconceptional period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcium supplementation and periconceptional use of folic acid seem not to be prescribed routinely by physicians. This should motivate the implementation of educational programs for obstetricians on the use of interventions based on the best available evidence.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina da Fundação ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil. camilatallah@gmail.com
authors.forename: Camila Atallah Pontes da
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Carolina Atallah Pontes da
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Álvaro Nagib
authors.initials: ÁN
authors.lastname: Atallah
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sass
authors.forename: Eliane Terezinha Rocha
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peixoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D002118:Calcium