Prevalence and factors associated with the consumption of folic acid and iron in pregnant women in the BRISA cohort

Abstract

Objectives: to describe the prevalence and factors associated with the consumption of folic acid and iron among puerperal women in the city of São Luís, Maranhão. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 4,036 puerperal women through a standardized questionnaire. The dependent variables (outcomes) were: the consumption of folic acid during pregnancy, iron and folic acid before pregnancy. The independent variables: age; schooling; skin color; marital status; income; planned pregnancy; place and number of prenatal consultations. Statistical analyzes were performed on STATA 14.0. For the first two outcomes, Poisson model with a robust variance was used. And for the last one, logistic regression. Results: the prevalence of consuming folic acid and iron during pregnancy were, respec-tively, 77.27% and 84.98%. However, only 0.37% reported the consume of folic acid and iron before pregnancy. In the adjusted analysis, the variables associated with the consumption of folic acid during pregnancy were: schooling and income; the consume of iron during preg-nancy, age only; and for those who consumed folic acid before pregnancy, no variable was statistically significant. Conclusions: high percentage of puerperal women who consumed folic acid and iron supplements during pregnancy, however, the recommended consumption of folic acid before pregnancy was low and maternal, social and economic factors influence the consumption of these supplements.

Suplementação de sulfato ferroso entre gestantes: um estudo de série temporal no extremo Sul do Brasil

“…No entanto, fica evidente que, por se tratar de um procedimento de fácil realização, com alta disponibilidade nos serviços de saúde e praticamente sem contraindicação, essa cobertura deveria estar próxima à universalização 6,7,19 . Alguns estudos apresentam resultados apontando na mesma direção que o presente artigo, indicando maior prevalência e maior RP para suplementação com sulfato ferroso entre mulheres de menor idade, com renda familiar no pior quartil e que realizaram pré-natal no serviço público de saúde 9,14,17,18 . Essa situação é incomum no setor de saúde, pois via de regra, as mais pobres estão sempre em desvantagem.…”

Periconceptional folic acid usage and its associated factors in eastern Sudan: A cross-sectional study

“…Moreover, our study did not collect as much information about ethnicity as compared to other studies, 32 given that Gadarif State is a multiethnic society. 26 Other factors that may lead to low folic acid supplementation in periconceptional period such as lack of knowing the importance for the fetal development, difficulty in getting folic acid, low socioeconomic status, and the culture background of the family 12 – 14 were not investigated. Furthermore, information about the correlation of folic acid usage with serum folic acid levels is limited, as several dietary sources can contain folic acid, and dietary habits such as fruit and vegetables intake 29 are crucial and can be obtained in future research.…”

“… 10 Many factors were reported by researchers that can lead to low folic acid supplementation in periconceptional period such as lack of knowing the importance for the fetal development, difficulty in getting folic acid, low socioeconomic status, and the culture background of the family. 12 – 14…”

Nutritional Knowledge about Maternal and Newborn Health among Physiotherapists during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Another finding worthy of attention from our study was that only two physiotherapists answered correctly for the question related with the recommended interval between pregnancies, as it is known that very short periods can increase the risk of premature or low-birth-weight newborns due to the mother’ s inability to recover her nutritional reserves between one pregnancy and another [ 54 ].…”

“…There is a consensus regarding the potential negative effects of a newborn’s low birthweight on their development that may be difficult to treat and reverse [ 53 , 54 ]. Therefore, a higher rate of correct answers on the matter was expected because this issue is a matter of the physiotherapist’ s responsibility.…”