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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2002 Jul 1;93(4):259–263. doi: 10.1007/BF03405012

Pregnancy Planning: A Determinant of Folic Acid Supplements Use for the Primary Prevention of Neural Tube Defects

Pascale Morin 14,✉, Philippe De Wals 24, Denise St-Cyr-Tribble 34, Théophile Niyonsenga 44, Hélène Payette 54
PMCID: PMC6980095  PMID: 12154526

Abstract

Objective: Daily consumption of supplements containing 400 μg of folic acid in the periconception period may reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) by as much as 70%. However, despite explicit recommendations, folic acid consumption among women likely to become pregnant remains low. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate women’s knowledge and beliefs with regard to folic acid; to estimate the frequency of vitamin supplement consumption; and to identify its determinants during the periconception period.

Methods: In 1999–2000, a questionnaire was completed by 1,240 pregnant women in 10 Quebec hospitals.

Results: Seventy percent of the respondents were aware of the preventive role of folic acid but only 25% had taken the recommended dose of supplements during the periconception period. Supplement consumption is associated with the pregnancy planning intensity score (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02–1.11), knowledge score (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07–1.16) and belief in the usefulness of supplements (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.02–2.39).

Conclusion: These results indicate that further efforts are needed to inform the population and promote the optimal use of folic acid supplements.

Footnotes

Acknowledgements: This study was funded by Kellogg Canada Inc. Pascale Morin has a scholarship from the Danone Institute of Canada.

We thank Mrs. Louise Gravel-Roy and Geneviève Anctil for collecting the data. We also thank the employees from the participating hospitals: Centre hospitalier Angrignon, Centre hospitalier Anna-Laberge, Centre hospitalier d’Asbestos, Centre hospitalier Beauce-Etchemin, Centre hospitalier Notre-Dame–du-Lac, Centre hospitalier Pierre-Boucher, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Montréal, Centre universitaire de santé de l’Estrie, Hôpital La Pocatière et Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis.

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