Awareness of post partum women on the effects of folic acid in the prevention of congenital anomalies Conocimiento sobre el ácido fólico en la prevención de defectos de cierre del tubo neural: Una encuesta a mujeres que viven en Santiago de Chile

Abstract

Background: Wheat flour in Chile is fortified with folic acid and pregnant women are also supplemented with the vitamin, but the population level of knowledge or awareness about this vitamin and its use by pregnant women is unknown. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge that postpartum women from Santiago de Chile have about folic acid. Material and methods: A questionnaire about folic acid and its efects on the prevention of neural tube defects was developed adapting questionnaires designed abroad. It was applied by medical students to puerperal women, hospitalized in public hospitals. Results: The questionnaire was applied to 342 women aged 26 ± 7 years. Sixty one percent were housewives and 55% completed high school education. Forty seven percent of these women had heard about folic acid, 9.6% knew that it was able to prevent congenital defects and only one received an adequate supplementation during pregnancy. Women aged 25 to 34 years and those with an adequate medical care during