title: Performance of pregnant women on folic acid intake.
abstract: The cause of neural tube defects (NTDs) is multifactorial and in this case folic acid has an important role. Since the neural tube is closed during 21-28 days of pregnancy, most of women are not informed about their pregnancy at this time, and as a result the golden time of folic acid consumption is missed. The aim of this study was evaluating the performance of pregnant women attending to Tehran Women's Hospital in regard to folic acid intake during pre-conceptional period between 2011 and 2012. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 370 pregnant women attending the prenatal clinic of a hospital affiliate to Tehran University of Medical Sciences between 2011 and 2012. Data were collected through interview using a questionnaire. Although 70% of the pregnancies were planned, but 70.5% of pregnant women had not taken folic acid before conception or in necessary time. There was found a significant relationship between level of education, history of abnormalities in children and the number of abortions and taking folic acid before pregnancy (P=0.005, P=0.000 and P=0.000, respectively).
authors: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Women Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. fsahmady@yahoo.com.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Rezaei
authors: Farahnaz Sadat
authors: FS
authors: Ahmadi
authors: Shirin
authors: S
authors: Niroomanesh
authors: Shahram
authors: S
authors: Ejtemaee Mehr
authors: Fatemeh
authors: F
authors: Davari Tanha
authors: Atefeh
authors: A
authors: Aminian
authors: Azizeh
authors: A
authors: Ghaseminejad
authors: Soleiman
authors: S
authors: Abbasi
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Yarandi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid