Folic acid usage and associated factors in the prevention of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Research Article

Meselech Ambaw Dessie¹  Ayanaw Worku Berihun¹  Ejigu Gebeye Zeleke²  Shimelash Bitew Workie³ 

[1] Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Collage of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia;Department of Biostatic and Epidemiology, Institute of public health, Collage of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia;Department of Biostatic and Epidemiology, school of public health, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia;

关键词: Neural tube defects;    Folic acid;    Pregnancy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-017-1506-2

 received in 2017-04-20, accepted in 2017-09-11,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNeural tube defects are among the most common birth defects, contributing to miscarriage, infant mortality, severe congenital abnormalities and serious disabilities. It is burdensome to patients, caregivers, healthcare systems and society. It could be reduced if women consume a folic acid supplement before and during the early weeks of pregnancy. This study assesses folic acid usage and associated factors for the prevention of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Ethiopia.MethodsInstitution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 417 systematically sampled, consented pregnant women that visited Adama hospital medical college for antenatal care during August to November 2014. Pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic, obstetric characteristics and folic acid usage of women.ResultAbout 48.4% of women took a folic acid supplement at different period of pregnancy; but, only 1.92% of women took the supplement at a protective period against neural tube defects. Age, the early timing of antenatal registration, was a preconception consulted, previous unsuccessful pregnancies and level of folic acid awareness were significantly associated with folic acid usage for prevention of neural tube defects.ConclusionsFolic acid usage during the protective period against neural tube defects among women in Ethiopia is very low, so healthcare plan to improve intake of folic acid is required.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017