1. Folic acid intake of young women.
- Author
-
Hilton JJ
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Neural Tube Defects prevention & control, North Carolina, Nutrition Assessment, Preconception Care methods, Pregnancy, Feeding Behavior, Folic Acid administration & dosage, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Nutritional Status, Students statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the folic acid intake of young women ages 18-24., Design: Nonexperimental, descriptive survey., Setting: Small private college in western North Carolina., Participants: A convenience sample of 42 female college students ages 18-24., Main Outcome Measures: Survey of demographics, folic acid intake, knowledge of folic acid, and pregnancy contemplation., Results: All participants were found to have an inadequate diet and an inadequate intake of folic acid. Only 33.3% reported taking daily multivitamins. These findings may be attributed to the participants' lack of knowledge about folic acid and the birth defects it helps to prevent., Conclusion: Inadequate folic acid intake is common in young women ages 18-24. These young women frequently have poor nutritional habits and are usually noncontemplators of pregnancy. more...
- Published
- 2002