title: Folate use in women with epilepsy: predictors of adherence in a specialized tertiary outclinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to determine the percentage of women with epilepsy (WWE) taking folic acid (FA) in an outpatient epilepsy tertiary hospital at São Paulo, Brazil, and to identify the possible predictors of adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred seventy-six medical records of patients followed in our service were reviewed. Sixty-six WWE using antiepileptic drugs with age between 16 and 52, sexually active but not in menopausal period, not pregnant, and not sterilized or with vasectomized partners underwent direct interviews with a prestructured questionnaire. Logistic regression with clinical and demographic variables using a stepwise method was performed to identify predictable variables of folate use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 42.40% of FA intake. Hormonal contraceptive method use was an independent variable negatively associated with adherence to folate. Additionally, educational level was an independent variable positively associated with adherence to folate in WWE above 35years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found low folate adherence. Improved planning pre-conception for WWE should improve rates of effective folate supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: valmirpas@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Valmir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Passarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathália Stela Visoná
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Bartzen
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Moraes Angst
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Meire Argentoni
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baldocchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Sheila
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Guimarães Rocha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004522:Educational Status; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013723:Teratogens; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D013723:Teratogens; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Adherence; Anticonvulsants; Epilepsy; Folate; Teratogenesis; Women's health