Folic Acid Awareness and Utilization in Pregnant Women with Neural Tube Defect Risk Factors: A Prospective Cohort Study

Öz

Our aim in our study was to evaluate folic acid use and awareness among pregnant women with NTD risk factors. The prospective cohort study encompassed singleton pregnant women in their first trimester at a tertiary hospital in Turkey. The study group consisted of 132 pregnant women with at least one NTD risk factor and equal number without any risk factors, forming the control group. Demographic data were collected via responses to a 10-question survey developed through a literature review. The survey explored participants' knowledge of folic acid and awareness of NTDs. It was conducted face to face and categorized by outcome. The high-risk group exhibited better folate awareness and use. Although there was a significant increase in pre-pregnancy folate use in the high-risk group, only 18.35% had used pre-pregnancy folate. The study showed that folate awareness was higher among participants with at least a university degree. In conclusion, despite recommendations for pre-conceptional folate use, the study reveals that awareness and use are low and emphasizes the need to increase social awareness, especially by targeting women with NTD risk factors.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• folate
• folic acid
• awareness
• high-risk pregnancy
• neural tube defect

Nöral Tüp Defekti Risk Faktörleri Olan Gebe Kadınlarda Folik Asit Farkındalığı ve Kullanımı: Prospektif Bir Kohort Çalışması

Öz

Bu çalışmayla NTD risk faktörü olan gebe kadınların folik asit kullanımı ve bilinç düzeyini değerlendirmeyi amaçladık. Üçüncü basamak bir hastanede prospektif kohort çalışması olarak tasarlanan bu çalışma, gebeliğin ilk trimesterindeki tekil gebeleri kapsıyordu. Çalışmaya risk grubunu oluşturan en az bir NTD açısından risk faktörü olan 132 gebe ve kontrol grubu olarak da risk faktörü olmayan benzer sayıda gebe kadın dahil edildi. Literatür taraması yoluyla geliştirilen 10 soruluk bir ankete verilen yanıtlara dayanan çalışmamızda beraberinde demografik veriler toplandı. Anket, katılımcıların folik asit hakkındaki bilgilerini ve NTD'lere ilişkin farkındalık düzeyini araştırdı; anketler yüz yüze gerçekleştirildi ve sonuca göre kategorize edildi. Risk grubunda olan gebelerde folat farkındalığı ve kullanımı daha yüksek bulundu. Riskli grupta gebelik öncesi folat kullanımı kontrol grubuna kıyasla yüksek bulunmasına rağmen, yalnızca %18,35'i gebelik öncesi folat kullanmıştı. Çalışma, en az üniversite diplomasına sahip katılımcılar arasında folat farkındalığının daha yüksek olduğunu gösterdi. Sonuç olarak prekonsepsiyonel folat kullanımına yönelik önerilere rağmen çalışma, farkındalık ve kullanımın düşük olduğunu ortaya koymakta ve özellikle NTD risk faktörleri olan kadınları hedef alarak toplumsal farkındalığın artırılması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• folik asit
• folat
• farkındalık
• yüksek riskli gebelik
• nöral tüp defekti

Kaynakça

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