title: Knowledge on preconceptional folic acid supplementation and intention to seek for preconception care among men and women in an urban city: a population-based cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the knowledge of a large city population on preconception folic acid supplementation and intention to seek for preconception care within an urban perinatal health program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional surveys run in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 2007 and annually from 2009 to 2014. A random sample of residents aged between 16 and 85 years was taken each year from the municipal population register. Bivariate analysis, interaction analysis, trend analysis and logistic regression were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge on preconceptional folic acid supplementation significantly improved (+20%) between 2007 and 2009, and the intention to consult a GP or midwife in the preconception period significantly increased (+53%) from 2007 to 2012. Logistic regression analyses showed that low socio-economic status was significantly associated with low preconceptional folic acid knowledge, but with higher intention to seek out preconception care. An interaction effect was found between educational level and ethnicity, showing that the higher the educational level the lower the gap of level of knowledge between the different ethnic groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite campaigns about folic acid supplementation knowledge on this supplement remains low. The intention amongst men and women to seek out preconception care is still insufficient. Structural interventions to increase and maintain awareness on folic acid supplementation, especially among high-risk groups, are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Westzeedijk 118, Room Wk-221, 3016 AH, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. s.temel@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Temel
authors.affiliation: Municipal Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. o.erdem@Rotterdam.nl.
authors.forename: Özcan
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.affiliation: Municipal Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ajj.voorham@Rotterdam.nl.
authors.forename: Toon A J J
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Voorham
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. g.bonsel@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Gouke J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bonsel
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Westzeedijk 118, Room Wk-221, 3016 AH, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. e.a.p.steegers@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Eric A P
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Steegers
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Westzeedijk 118, Room Wk-221, 3016 AH, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. denktas@euc.eur.nl.
authors.forename: Semiha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Denktaş
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000592:standards*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid