The Awareness and the Use of Folic Acid During Pregnancy at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad

Victoria Samar*, Shireen Arif**, Rohama Samar***
* Senior Lecturer, People’s Nursing School, Liaqaut University Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan.
** Assistant Professor, Ziauddin University College of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan.
*** Resident, Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Periodicity:August - October'2018
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.8.3.14393

Abstract

Taking folic acid daily, before and during early pregnancy, has been proven to reduce risk of neural tube defect. The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid among pregnant females admitted in the gynecology ward. Awareness sessions were conducted for females admitted in the gynecology ward of Civil Hospital in Hyderabad. The data was collected using self-administered structured questionnaire. Questionnaire included inquiry on their demographic data, knowledge and use of folic acid, and knowledge about neural tube defect. A total of 100 pregnant females participated in the study. 100% females do not know about the neural tube defect deficiency of folic acid can cause neural tube defect. The data of the study showed that before providing awareness to the women regarding folic acid showed that 53% females did not know about folic acid whereas, this percentage decreases to 13%. 67% females did not know about the importance of folic acid before session. The awareness sessions increase the use and level of knowledge regarding folic acid among females of Hyderabad. The study concluded that awareness of Folic acid among pregnant women is very low in Hyderabad. The level of knowledge and use of folic acid could be increased through conducting awareness sessions. Public educational strategies about folic acid may improve its intake among women.

Keywords

Awareness, Folic Acid, Neural Tube Defect, Public Education

How to Cite this Article?

Samar, V., Arif, S and Samar, R.(2018). The Awareness and The Use of Folic Acid During Pregnancy at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad. i-manager’s Journal on Nursing, 8(3),23-28. https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.8.3.14393

References

[1]. Abdulmalek, L. J. (2017). Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding folic acid among pregnant women in Benghazi, Libya. Age (years), 20(9/131), 7.
[2]. Al Hossani, H., Abouzeid, H., Salah, M. M., Farag, H. M., & Fawzy, E. (2010). Knowledge and practices of pregnant women about folic acid in pregnancy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 16, 4.
[3]. Anzaku, A. S. (2013). Assessing folic acid awareness and its usage for the prevention of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria. Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences, 2(1), 13-17.
[4]. Shoaib, M., Choudry, U. K., Tariqa, S., Siddiqa, I. A., Khaliq, M. F., Noorani, M. M., Ahmed, S. A.; & Iftikhar, W. (2017). Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defects - Knowledge and Practices of Mothers from Pakistan. J. Surgery Emerg. Med., 1, 1.
[5]. Dessie, M. A., Zeleke, E. G., Workie, S. B., & Berihun, A. W. (2017). Folic acid usage and associated factors in the prevention of neural tube defects among pregnant women in Ethiopia: cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17(1), 313.
[6]. Eichholzer, M., Tönz, O., & Zimmermann, R. (2006). Folic acid: A public-health challenge. The Lancet, 367(9519), 1352-1361.
[8]. Hisam, A., Rahman, M. U., & Mashhadi, S. F. (2014). Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding folic acid deficiency: A hidden hunger. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 30(3), 583-588.
[9]. Horn, F., Sabova, L., Pinterova, E., Hornova, J., & Trnka, J. (2014). Prevention of neural tube defects by folic acidawareness among women of childbearing age in Slovakia. Bratislavske lekarske listy, 115(2), 91-97.
[10]. Jamil, S., khan, S., & Sadia, H. (2017). Knowledge attitude & practice of folic acid consumption in pregnant women. Int. J. Pharm Sci. & Scient. Res., 3(6), 74-81.
[11]. Jou, H. J., Hsu, I. P., Liu, C. Y., Chung, S. H., Chen, S. M., & Gau, M. L. (2010). Awareness and use of folic acid among pregnant women in Taipei. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 49(3), 306-310.
[12]. Köken, G. N., Derbent, A. U., Erol, O., Saygın, N., Ayık, H., & Karaca, M. (2013). Awareness and use of folic acid among reproductive age and pregnant women. Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association, 14(2), 87-91.
[13]. Maher, M., & Keriakos, R. (2014). Women's awareness of periconceptional use of folic acid before and after their antenatal visits. Clinical Medicine Insights: Women's Health, 7, 1-15.
[14]. Nisar, Y. B., Alam, A., Aurangzeb, B., & Dibley, M. J. (2014). Perceptions of antenatal iron-folic acid supplements in urban and rural Pakistan: A qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14(1), 344.
[15]. Peake, J. N., Copp, A. J., & Shawe, J. (2013). Knowledge and periconceptional use of folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects in ethnic communities in the United Kingdom: Systematic review and meta analysis. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 97(7), 444-451.
[16]. Pötzsch, S., Hoyer-Schuschke, J., Seelig, M., & Steinbicker, V. (2006). Knowledge among young people about folic acid and its importance during pregnancy: A survey in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). Journal of Applied Genetics, 47(2), 187-190.
[17]. Shafqat, T., Fayaz, S., Rahim, R., & Saima, S. (2015). Knowledge and awareness regarding antenatal care and delivery among pregnant women. Journal of Medical Sciences, 23(2), 88-91.
[18]. Sharp, G. F., Naylor, L. A., Cai, J., Hyder, M. L., Chandra, P., & Guillory, V. J. (2009). Assessing awareness, knowledge and use of folic acid in Kansas women between the ages of 18 and 44 years. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 13(6), 814-821.
[19]. Tekkeşin, N., & Taser, F. (2012). Folic acid usage and awareness in pregnant women in Istanbul, Turkey. Journal of Hospital Administration, 1(1), 9-14.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Pdf 35 35 200 20
Online 35 35 200 15
Pdf & Online 35 35 400 25

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.