Folic Acid Intake;

Abstract

Study objectives were devised to assess perceptions of women regarding importance of folic acid intake, to evaluate role of healthcare providers in counseling of women for folic acid intake, to find out association between perceptions of women with folic acid intake practices and with counseling of healthcare providers. Study Design: A cross sectional survey. Setting: Gynecology and Obstetrics Wards and OPDs of Tertiary Care and Teaching Hospitals of District Rawalpindi. Period: July-December 2016. Methodology: Study participants were approached by using convenient sampling technique and sample size was of 271 women of reproductive age. attending gynecology and obstetrics wards and OPDs of tertiary care and teaching hospitals of district Rawalpindi. After obtaining consent from institutional review board, an interview-based questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Results: Out of 271 women of childbearing age, 60% perceived the importance of folic acid intake in diet. The highest counseling contribution was from doctors (57.6%) while evaluation of role of healthcare providers was done regarding counseling. Those who had perceived importance of folic acid had a significant better intake (p = 0.03). There was a significant association between role of healthcare providers and perceptions (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Majority of women perceived importance of folic acid intake and doctors were playing a significant role in counseling of women regarding folic acid intake during pregnancy. Folic acid intake practices were significantly influenced by women's own perceptions and role of healthcare providers was a very important factor to direct perceptions of women.