Original scientific paper

What Zadar county women know of folic acid and how much they use it

Ksenija Vitale ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet, Škola narodnog zdravlja "Andrija Štampar"
Slavica Sović ; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet, Škola narodnog zdravlja "Andrija Štampar"
Marko Milić ; Specijalna bolnica za ortopediju, Biograd na moru
Ljilja Balorda ; Zavod za javno zdravstvo Zadar
Goran Todorović ; Dom zdravlja Velika
Branko Uhoda ; Specijalna bolnica za ortopediju, Biograd na moru

Abstract

The aim of this study is to establish what pregnant women in Zadar County know about folic acid (FA) and how much they were using it. Out of 339 women 16.5% took FA correctly, 23% took some multivitamin, despite the fact that 80% knew what is FA, and 85% believed that it is useful. Some recommendation got 49% of women, mostly from pharmacists, only 2% got recommendation from physicians, out of whom not a single women with lower education. 39% of women decided to take FA on their own. Logistic regression analysis showed that the strongest positive predictor for taking FA is planned pregnancy and spontaneous abortion or stillborn. Smoking is a negative predictor. Women with higher education took more FA. Women with lower education are in multiple adverse positions due to poorer general knowledge, weaker social network and poorer access to the health care system. Under the presumption that Croatia will not introduce mandatory FA food fortification, until it is obligatory in the EU, it is necessary to use a combination of all available methods in order to supplement all women in childbearing age in Zadar County. An integrative approach through education on nutrition and lifestyle along with right supplementation could lead to decreased neural tube defects. An integrative approach implies benefit from the availability of pharmacists, influence of family and friends and above all increased availability and recommendations of through the primary health care system.

Keywords

Folic acid; neural tube defect; public health intervention; supplementation; recommendations

Hrčak ID:

77238

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/77238

Publication date:

1.2.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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