Factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid in the periconceptional period among Korean women

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid (FA) during the periconceptional period among Korean women. Design: In a cross-sectional study of demographic, obstetric and socio-economic data, history of periconceptional intake of FA and awareness of the benefits of FA supplementation in pregnancy were obtained and analysed using the x 2 test, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Setting: The Maternity School, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Seoul, South Korea, between October 2005 and March 2006. Subjects: In total 1313 pregnant women participating in a two-day training course available every month. Results: After excluding subjects with incomplete or inconsistent data, there were 1277 women included in the analysis. Participants were aged 29?4 (SD 2?9) years and had a mean gestational age of 27?9 (SD 7?1) weeks. Only 131 (10?3 %) women took FA during the periconceptional period. According to multiple logistic regression analyses, the adjusted OR for FA supplementation was 1?79 (95 % CI 1?10, 2?91) in women who had previous spontaneous abortions, 4?10 (95 % CI 2?43, 6?78) in women who planned their pregnancy and 6?63 (95 % CI 2?08, 21?12) in those who were aware of the protective effects of FA. Conclusions: Periconceptional intake of FA was more likely among Korean women with a history of previous spontaneous abortion, who planned their pregnancy or who were aware of the protective effects of FA during pregnancy. However, the proportion of women who took FA in the periconceptional period was low.

Duration of periconceptional folic acid supplementation in women booking for antenatal care

“…Cross-sectional studies from Korea and East London report the lowest rates of preconceptional FA use (15,17) . Ethnic minority groups have been shown to have lower rates of preconceptional FA use (18) .…”

Demographic factors determining folic acid supplementation in pregnant and childbearing age women

“…The number of subjects who did not plan their pregnancy is significantly higher (p = 0.09) among women who did not take FA before pregnancy. Periconceptional FA intake was more likely to occur among Korean women who planned their pregnancy or who were aware of the protective effects of FA during pregnancy [24]. In a cross-sectional study on a sample of 400 pregnant women, Popa et al, noted that 49.9% of FA-takers wanted pregnancy, as compared to 30% of FA takers with unwanted pregnancy.…”

Primary Prevention of Neural Tube Defects

“…Even in the Netherlands, where the percentage of planned pregnancies is estimated at 85%, only 36% of women take folic acid supplements during the periconceptional period (Meijer and De Walle, 2005). These low levels of intake were seen in different countries with the highest percentage of intake seen in Canada and the USA (40%) and the lowest percentages in Korea (10.3%), Thailand (9.7%) and Lebanon (7.5%) (Kim et al, 2009;Morin et al, 2002;Nasr Hage et al, 2011;Nawapun and Phupong, 2007;CDC, 2008).…”

“…In Europe, countries such as Norway and Ireland, studies have shown a higher chance of folic acid usage among women with planned pregnancies compared to unplanned pregnancies (McGuire et al, 2010;Nilsen et al, 2006). A planned pregnancy was also a factor related to supplements consumption in non-western countries such as Lebanon and Korea (Kim et al, 2009;Nasr Hage et al, 2011). The impact of this factor increases with the proximity of the planned conception, with women who indicate their desire to become pregnant at some time in the future but with no specific plan, being no more likely to take a daily folic acid supplement than women never wanting to become pregnant (Cleves et al, 2004).…”