Publication: Assessing the Level of Knowledge in the Preconceptional Use of Folic Acid Supplement among Primigravida Women
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Folic acid deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies among women
of childbearing in developing countries. Folic acid intake prior to, and during, the first
months of pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of fetal neural tube defects.
Objective
To find out the level of knowledge regarding the benefits and use of preconceptional
folic acid supplements among pimigravida women.
Method
A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 primigravida
women attending obstetric outpatient department of Kathmandu Medical College
Teaching Hospital. A pretested questionnaire was administered using systematic
random sampling technique and data was analysed by SPSS version 16.0 using
descriptive and inferential statistics.
Result
Study revealed that 10.8% respondents had good knowledge whereas, 65.6% had
poor knowledge about preconceptional folic acid supplementation. 87.2% had taken
folic acid at some point of pregnancy and 17.6 % of pregnant women had taken
preconceptional folic acid. 21.2% had heard about folic acid supplement and 20%
had known about benefits of preconceptional folic acid. 17.6% knew that it should be
taken one month before conception and 16% answered that it could prevent neural
tube defects.
Conclusion
Majority of primigravida women lack the knowledge of preconceptional folic acid.
Most women planning to get pregnant are also not taking folic acid supplementation.
KEY WORDS
Folic acid, Neural tube defect, Preconception, Primigravida, Supplement
Description
Koirala S,1 Pokharel S2
1Department of Nursing
Kathmandu Medical College,
Basic Science Complex, Duwakot, Bhaktapur.
2Department of Medical Microbiology,
Nobel Medical College,
Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Keywords
Folic acid, Neural tube defect, Preconception, Primigravida, Supplement