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Abstract
The objective of this study
was to assess the knowledge
and use of folic acid among
pregnant women in Omdurman
Maternity Hospital, Sudan.
The study is a descriptive
cross-sectional hospital-based
study.
One
thousand pregnant women were
interviewed, where a structured
questionnaire was developed
for the study. Results of
the survey indicated that
91.2% of the women knew about
folic acid, 16.2% knew that
it prevents birth defects,
86.9% knew that it prevents
anemia. The majority (88.6%)
of women was taking the supplement,
51.3% were taking it regularly,
but only 4.7% took it before
getting pregnant. Knowledge
and use were significantly
influenced by age, education
level, employment and family
income. Preconception use
of the supplement was lowest
among illiterate and least
educated women 7.02%.
It
was concluded that a high
level of knowledge of folic
acid was not reflected in
regard to successful use of
the folic acid supplement.
Thus, it is justifiable for
the prevention of all those
affected by low levels of
FA intake to introduce the
policy of food fortification
as is practiced in many developed
countries.
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