Periconceptional folic acid supplementation among women attending antenatal clinic in Anhui, China: data from a population-based cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
to examine the rate of periconceptional and optimal folic acid supplementation, and to characterise their patterns and determinants among antenatal women in central China.


METHODS
data from 4290 women in the Anhui Birth Defects and Child Development Cohort Study recruited between October 2008 and September 2009 were analysed.


METHODS
seven Maternal and Child Health Centres of two cities (Hefei and Maanshan) in Anhui province of central China.


METHODS
women initiating prenatal care were included and asked to complete a structured questionnaire regarding folic acid supplementation.


RESULTS
sixty-eight per cent (2905/4290) of pregnant women reported taking folic acid supplementation periconceptionally (i.e. at some point before or during early pregnancy), and 32.8% (1405/4290) and 65.2% (2797/4290) had taken it before or during early pregnancy, respectively. However, only 16.1% (690/4290) used it optimally (i.e. regularly from four weeks before pregnancy throughout four weeks after pregnancy). Use of periconceptional folic acid was significantly associated with educational level, household income, registered residence, age, gestational age at recruitment, and planning of pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
optimal folic acid supplementation was relatively low.


CONCLUSIONS
further efforts are needed to inform the population and promote the use of folic acid supplementation.
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China. xiuya_2000@sina.com
Xiu-Ya
XY
Xing
Fang-Biao
FB
Tao
Jia-Hu
JH
Hao
Kun
K
Huang
Zhao-Hui
ZH
Huang
Xiao-Ming
XM
Zhu
Li-Min
LM
Xiao
Dai-Juan
DJ
Cheng
Pu-Yu
PY
Su
Peng
P
Zhu
Yuan-Yuan
YY
Xu
Ying
Y
Sun
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort 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; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid