title: Awareness of spina bifida and periconceptional use of folic acid among pregnant women in a developing economy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Folate deficiency in pregnant women is a recognized cause of spina bifida. We sought to establish the level of awareness of spina bifida as well as the use of folate supplementation among pregnant women in a developing economy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information from 200 to 20 randomly selected pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the authors' institution. Demographic information and information on parity, folic acid use and knowledge on spina bifida including its cause, prevention and treatment were obtained. Data analyses were done using Epi Info version 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the women was 30.3 years (range 17-52 years). Sixty-six of the women (30.0 %) were primigravida. Most of the respondents [208 (94.5 %)] have attained, at least, secondary level of education. The average gestational age at antenatal clinic booking was 20.7 weeks (range 4-38 weeks), while the average gestational age at commencement of folic acid use was 18.5 weeks (range 4-38 weeks). None of them used folic acid in the preconception period. Knowledge about spina bifida is poor and a significant number [103 (46.8 %)] have superstitious belief about its aetiology. Only 56 (25.5 %) of the respondents are aware that folic acid use prevents its occurrence; however, 194 (88.2 %) are willing to receive periconceptional folate supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is paucity of knowledge about spina bifida among Nigerian pregnant women despite their high level of formal education. We advocate an aggressive public health campaign to enlighten the women about spina bifida and encourage periconceptional folate supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. eshohealth@gmail.com
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Rabiu
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Tiamiyu
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Awoyinka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005865:Gestational Age; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013483:Superstitions; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid