Awareness of Preconceptional Folic Acid Supplemenation Among Pregnant Woment at a Referal Hospital in Kathmandu

Abstract

Folic acid deficiency can lead to Neural Tube Defects (NTDs). Preconceptional folic acid  supplementation, 1 month prior to 12 weeks after the conception has shown to decrease both the  occurrence and recurrence of NTDs among the children. The objective of this study was to find out the  awareness and practice regarding preconceptional folic acid supplementation among pregnant women  at a referral level hospital in Kathmandu. 

The descriptive, cross sectional study design was adopted among 95 pregnant women visiting at  Antenatal/Gynae outpatient department (OPD) of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH),  Kathmandu, Nepal. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used for data collection with  interview method by using a semi structured interview schedule. Data was analyzed using descriptive  and inferential statistics. 

The majority (82.1%) of respondents were of the age group of 20 to 30 years, 75% had secondary  level of education & above, majority (85.3%) of women were from middle socioeconomic status,  33.7% women had adequate level of awareness about health benefit of folic acid consumption, 46.3%  thought that folic acid has beneficial for the growth of fetus and 17.9% answered the correct period  of supplementation is prior to conception. Higher level of awareness was found among women with  20-30 years, middle socioeconomic status and primigravida women.  

The level of awareness on preconceptional folic acid consumption found to be low among pregnant  women. More than half of the participants were taking folic acid as soon as pregnancy was detected.  An awareness program regarding preconceptional counseling and folic acid supplement incorporation  is needed in formal secondary level curriculum. This information should be incorporate to sensitize  the girls. An emphasis on strategies to improve the level of folic acid supplementation among the  reproductive age women is recommended to the policy makers.