American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 192, Issue 1 , Pages 121-128 , January 2005

Trends and predictors of folic acid awareness and periconceptional use in pregnant women

  • Lolkje T.W. de Jong-van den Berg, PharmD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
    • Department of Social Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Groningen University Institute of Drug Exploration, Groningen, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Lolkje T. W. de Jong-van den Berg, PharmD, PhD, Department of Social Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Groningen University Institute of Drug Exploration Guide, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
    • ,
  • Sonia Hernandez-Diaz, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
    • ,
  • Martha M. Werler, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
    • ,
  • Carol Louik, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
    • ,
  • Allen A. Mitchell, MD

      Affiliations

    • Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Mass

Received 10 March 2004 ,Revised 20 May 2004 ,Accepted 25 May 2004.

References 

  1. MRC Vitamin Study Research Group . Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Group. Lancet. 1991;338:131–137
  2. Czeizel AE, Dudas I. Prevention of the first occurrence of neural tube defects by periconceptional vitamin supplementation. N Engl J Med. 1992;327:1832–1835
  3. Berry RJ, Li Z, Erickson JD, Li S, Moore CA, Wang H, et al. Preventing neural-tube defects with folic acid in China. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:1485–1490
  4. Werler MM, Shapiro S, Mitchell AA. Periconceptional folic acid exposure and risk of occurrent neural tube defects. JAMA. 1993;269:1257–1261
  5. Myers MF, Li S, Correa-Villasenor A, Li Z, Moore CA, Shi X, et al. Folic acid supplementation and risk for imperforate anus in China. Am J Epidemiol. 2001;154:1051–1056
  6. Botto LD, Khoury MJ, Mulinare J, Erickson JD. Periconceptional multivitamin use and the occurrence of conotruncal heart defects: results from a population-based case-control study. Pediatrics. 1996;98:911–917
  7. Li D, Daling JR, Mueller BA, Hickok DE, Gantel AG, Weiss NS. Periconceptional multivitamin use in relation to the risk of congenital urinary tract anomalies. Epidemiology. 1995;6:212–218
  8. Werler MM, Hayes C, Louik C, Shapiro S, Mitchell AA. Multivitamin supplementation and risk of birth defects. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;150:675–682
  9. Cornel MC, Erickson JD. Comparison of national policies on periconceptional use of folic acid to prevent spina bifida and anencephaly. Teratology. 1997;44:134–137
  10. Institute of Medicine , Food and Nutrition Board . Dietary reference intakes: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin and choline. Washington (DC): National Academy Press; 1999;
  11. Werler MM, Louik C, Mitchell AA. Achieving a public health recommendation for preventing neural tube defects with folic acid. Am J Public Health. 1999;89:1637–1640
  12. Honein MA, Paulozzi LJ, Mathews TJ, Erickson JD, Wong IC. Impact of folic acid fortification of the US food supply on the occurrence of neural tube defects. JAMA. 2001;285:2981–2986
  13. Meyer RE, Siega-Riz AM. Sociodemographic patterns in spina bifida birth prevalence trends: North Carolina, 1995-1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2002;51:12–15
  14. Feldkamp M, Friedrichs M, Marti K. Folic acid awareness, knowledge, and consumption among women of childbearing age in Utah, 1998-2000. Am J Med Genet. 2002;107:67–69
  15. March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation . Folic acid and the prevention of birth defects: a national survey of pre-pregnancy awareness and behavior among women of childbearing age, 1995-2002: conducted by the Gallup Organization. White Plains (NY): March of Dimes Foundation; 2002;Publication no.: 31-1677-02
  16. de Walle HEK, de Jong-van den Berg LTW. Insufficient folic acid intake in the Netherlands: What about the future?. Teratology. 2002;66:40–43
  17. Itikala PR, Ruuska SE, Oakley GP, Kloeblen-Tarver AS, Klein L. Periconceptional intake of folic acid among low-income women [letter]. JAMA 200;283:3074.
  18. Mathews F, Yudkin P, Neil A. Folate in the periconceptional periods: Are women getting enough?. BJOG. 1998;105:954–959
  19. Huttly WJ, Wald NJ, Walters JC. Folic acid consumption before pregnancy remains inadequate. [letter] BMJ. 1999;319:1499
  20. Tham LC, Watkins M, Daniel KL. Serum folate levels among women attending family planning clinics: Georgia, 2000. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2002;151:4–8
  21. Rosenberg KD, Gelow JM, Sandoval AP. Pregnancy intendedness and the use of periconceptional folic acid. Pediatrics. 2003;111:1142–1145
  22. Canfield MA, Anderson JL, Waller DK, Palmer SE, Kaye CI. Folic acid awareness and use among women with a history of a neural tube defect pregnancy: Texas, 2000-2001. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2002;51:16–19
  23. de Walle HEK, van der Pal KM, de Jong-van den berg LTW, Jeeninga W, Schouten JS, de Rover CM, et al. Effect of mass media campaign to reduce socio-economic differences in womens' awareness and behaviour concerning use of folic acid: cross sectional study. BMJ. 1999;319:291–292
  24. Meijer MW, de Smit DJ, Jurgens AA, de Jong-van den Berg LTW. Pharmacists' role in awareness about folic acid: the process of introducing an intervention in pharmacy practice. IJPP. 2004;12:29–35

 Supported in part by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grant No. HD27697 and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute grant No. HL50763; the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, through a grant to the Massachusetts Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health; additional support for the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study was provided by Rhone Poulenc Rorer, Aventis, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Pfizer, and the Glaxo-Wellcome Company.

PII: S0002-9378(04)00573-3

doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.05.085

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 192, Issue 1 , Pages 121-128 , January 2005

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution