Abstract
Aims: To investigate the possible differences in folic acid use and to identify the determinants of antenatal folic acid use among multi-ethnic pregnant women.
Methods: Three hundred and fifty pregnant women participated in this cross-sectional study in a university hospital in Brussels, Belgium. A questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics and folic acid use. χ2-tests and binary logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS 17.
Results: In the overall cohort, 59.2% used folic acid supplements during pregnancy. This supplement use was associated with an age of 26–35 years, being of Western origin, with high education and employment status, understanding physician’s instructions, and early booking for antenatal care. Education (odds ratio, OR: 2.24; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08–4.63) and early booking for antenatal care OR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.11–5.40) were the most important determinants. In particular for Arab/Turkish women, a lower employment status OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24–0.73) was associated with a higher risk of not using folic acid supplements.
Conclusions: The lower use of folic acid supplements in Arab/Turkish ethnicities, which may be associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, is related to socio-economic factors rather than to lower educational attainment. As recommended by other studies, fortification of ethnic minority food may be warranted to reduce the risk of neural tube defects.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
