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Maternal and Child Health Journal
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal 4/2013

01-05-2013

Folic Acid Use in Planned Pregnancy: An Italian Survey

Authors: Marco De Santis, Tomasella Quattrocchi, Ilenia Mappa, Terryann Spagnuolo, Angelo Licameli, Giacomina Chiaradia, Carmen De Luca

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 4/2013

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Abstract

It is well known that periconceptional folic acid supplementation decreases the risk of neural tube defects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and practices of women with planned pregnancies regarding periconceptional folic acid intake and to identify factors associated with the use of this supplement. During 2 years of observation, we surveyed women with planned pregnancies who called our Teratology Information Service. A total of 500 women were surveyed: 217 (43.4 %) took folic acid before becoming pregnant, and 283 (56.6 %) did not take it. The women who took folic acid before becoming pregnant had a high education level and received preconception counselling. Our results suggest that less than half of Italian women took folic acid before they became pregnant although they were trying to conceive. Knowledge about the benefits of this vitamin is inadequate also among women who planned the pregnancy and the level of information received from their physicians.
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Metadata
Title
Folic Acid Use in Planned Pregnancy: An Italian Survey
Authors
Marco De Santis
Tomasella Quattrocchi
Ilenia Mappa
Terryann Spagnuolo
Angelo Licameli
Giacomina Chiaradia
Carmen De Luca
Publication date
01-05-2013
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1047-2

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