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Humanities
- ISSN: 2155-7993
- Journal of Modern Education Review
Folic Acid in Pregnancy: Irish Women’s Awareness in a North County
Dublin General Practice Setting
Sara Lupita O’'Kelly
(Beacon Hospital, Ireland)
Abstract: Ireland has one of the highest rates of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) worldwide & it continues to increase (McDonnell et al., 2014). Research links low folate levels with NTDs (such as spina bifida and related birth defects) leading to death or varying degrees of disability thus folic acid supplementation is effective in reducing their incidence (Wald et al., 1991). In 1993, the Department of Health and Children launched a national policy advising all women of childbearing age to take a daily folate supplementation. However this has shown limited effectiveness to date with voluntary fortification only reducing the rate of NTD affected pregnancies by 11–14%. Despite these recommendations, it is estimated that only 36% of childbearing women have adequate blood folate levels. This study set out to determine current maternal awareness regarding the appropriate timing of periconceptual folic acid, their understanding of its importance alongside the associated risks linked to folate deficiency and identify where they have learnt their information. In the study, 154 pregnant women aged between 18 and 50 completed an opportunistically distributed questionnaire. This looked at basic demographics alongside questions to determine women understanding regarding periconceptual folic acid use. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Over half of participants were between 30-35 years reflective of the average age of Irish mothers giving birth estimated as 32.5 years in recent 2015 CSO report. 91% were aware of the need to take supplements during pregnancy however only 67.5% recognized the need to commence supplements before conception and this knowledge reduced with age. Whilst 69% were aware of the reasons for taking periconceptual folic acid, only 44% were taking supplements prior to pregnancy which increased to 65% during pregnancy. Nearly half of respondents had learnt the information from their GP. The majority of women are aware of the need for folic acid both preconceptually and during the antenatal
period however there remains a large discrepancy between knowledge and current practice. I believe that GPs have a key role in raising awareness and improving education around this topic.
Key words: folic acid, Irish women’s awareness, Dublin