BackgroundWomen in many countries are advised to use folic acid supplements before and early during pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in their infants. This study aimed to update the prevalence and to identify possible determinants of preconception folic acid supplement use in Italian women.MethodsThe study was based on cross-sectional data from seven maternity clinics located in six Italian regions from January to June, 2012. Data on maternal characteristics and supplement use were collected for 2,189 women using a self-administered questionnaire.ResultsPreconception folic acid use was reported by 23.5 % (n = 515) of the participants. Of these, 479 (93 %) women had taken folic acid supplements on a daily basis as recommended by the health authorities. Women who both had intended their pregnancy and had requested a preconception health visit to a doctor/gynecologist were substantially more likely than the reference group to initiate folic acid supplementation before their pregnancy (48.6 versus 4.8 %). Preconception folic acid use was also associated with higher maternal age, higher education, marriage/cohabitation, lower parity, infertility treatments, and chronic disease.ConclusionsData from seven maternity clinics located in six Italian regions indicate that preconception folic acid supplement use in many Italian women is low. Women who do not plan their pregnancy or do not request a preconception health visit to their doctor have among the lowest prevalence of preconception folic acid use. Improving folate status in these and other supplemental non-users may have important disease preventive effects.

ObjectivesAdequate preconception maternal health care is essential to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy outcomes and complications. Still, many women are exposed to a number of unhealthy risk factors both before and early in pregnancy. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of a number of important preconception risk factors using data from a recent multicenter study in Italy.MethodsThe study was based on cross-sectional data from seven maternity clinics located in six different regions in Italy during the period January – June, 2012. Data on maternal preconception risk factors and characteristics were collected from 1,892 women who delivered healthy children and 320 women who were pregnant in the first trimester.ResultsAbout 97% of the women (n = 2,212) were exposed to one or more preconception risk factors. The overall prevalence of the most essential maternal risk factors was as follows: 41% had a age ≥35 years, 36% mistimed or did not intend their pregnancy, 58% did not request a preconception health visit to their doctor, 76% did not use folic acid supplements before pregnancy, 26% smoked at the last menstrual period, 19% had a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 before pregnancy, and 10% suffered from pregestational chronic diseases. The prevalence of certain variables varied between the maternity clinics.ConclusionsMany Italian women are exposed to a number of preconception risk factors that have been associated with adverse pregnancy complications and outcomes. More effective intervention programs to improve preconception health in Italian women are strongly needed.

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Recently several innovative suggestions on how industrial wastes can be utilised in new products have been presented in literature, e.g. as filler or additives in concrete, incorporated in ceramic materials to produce glass-ceramics and pavement construction. In this work, metallurgical materials from secondary aluminium scrap processing and glass waste derived from treatments of packaging and fluorescent lamps were considered for fabrication of new ceramic materials using powder technology and sintering process. The effect of composition and heat treatment temperature, on the sintering process and then final properties, were evaluated. The results showed that, with the proper firing temperature, lightweight ceramic materials containing high amount of glass waste and an innovative product resulting from the processing of secondary aluminum (ArgAlum) can be produced. The low water absorption ( 1%), low density ( 2 g/cm 3 ) and the good flexural strength (16-20 MPa) associated to relatively low sintering temperatures obtained with the addition of ArgAlum can be considered as promising initial results to obtain new green building materials.