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The current study has been conducted to determine folic acid (FA) knowledge, prevalence of use and related factors in the preconception period.The cross-sectional study has been completed with the participation of 384 pregnant women. The data of the study has been collected with the "Personal Information Form" and "Questions on Prevalence and Knowledge of Folic Acid Supplement Use" surveys. In the study, the total FA knowledge score of pregnant women has been found below the average as 4.12±2.65 (Min-Max=0-10). It has been determined that there was a significant difference among FA knowledge total score and age (p=0.009), education level (p=0.001), employment status (p=0.001), whether the pregnancy was planned (p=0.001), receiving care during the preconception period (p=0.007) and time to start FA supplementation (p= 0.030) It has been determined that 17.2% of the pregnant women participating in the study knew the right time to start FA supplementation and 17.7% of the pregnant women started FA supplementation in the preconception period. It has been determined that informing all women of reproductive age about using FA supplements during the preconception period and directing them to use FA is an important predictor of preventing health problems such as Neural Tube Defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the mental health outcomes of folic acid (FA) supplement use in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-prospective longitudinal study was conducted between 1 December 2019 and 30 January 2021 in a Family Health Center in eastern Turkey. The study was performed at one week in the postpartum period, at 6-8 weeks in the postpartum period, and at six months in the postpartum period. A total of 162 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. A Personal Information Form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to collect data. Results: While 32.7% (n=53) of the participants used FA supplementation from the pre-pregnancy period and in the first trimester of pregnancy (6 months in total), and 34.6% (n=56) used FA supplementation only in the first trimester of pregnancy. It was determined that 32.7% (n=53) of the participants did not use any FA supplement. Of those who did not use FA, 37.0% were in the antenatal period, and 50.8% were on the postnatal 6-8 days. It was determined that the participants experienced mild/moderate/severe anxiety in different weeks. BAI and EPDS scores were the lowest in the prenatal period, at 6-8 weeks in the postpartum period, and at 6 months in the postpartum period in those who used FA supplementation for 6 months. BAI and EPDS scores decreased significantly from the antenatal, to the postnatal 6-8-week, and to the postnatal 6-month measurements. Conclusion: The use of FA supplements can be effective in preventing symptoms of anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postnatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaç: Bu araştırmada Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum polikliniğine başvuran gebelerin folik asit hakkında bilgi durumu, folik asit farkındalığı, aktif folik asit kullanımı, gebe kalmadan önce kullanıp kullanmadığı ve gebelerde folik asit kullanımına etki eden faktörleri belirlemek amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Düzce Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Anabilim dalı Obstetri polikliniğine 15-31 Ocak 2017 tarihleri arasında başvuran 355 kişi araştırmanın evrenini oluşturmuştur. Örneklem seçimine gidilmemiştir. Araştırmaya katılmayı kabul eden 142 gebeye 17 sorudan oluşan anket yüz yüze görüşme tekniği ile uygulanmıştır.Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan 142 kişinin yaş ortalaması 28,2±6,1 (min=17, maks=42) idi. Araştırmaya katılanlar ortalama 2,4±1,4 (min=1, maks=6) kez gebe kalmıştır. Ortalama ilk gebe kalma yaşı 22,9±4,8 (min=14, maks=39) idi. Folik asidin bulunduğu besinleri doğru ifade etmiş olanlar 55 kişi (%38,7), folik asitçe yeterli beslendiğini düşünenler 82 kişi (%57,7), Nöral Tüp Defekti (NTD) tanımını doğru bilenler 11 kişidir (%7,7). Araştırma grubunda daha önceki gebeliğinde NTD’li çocuk doğuran 1 kadın (%0,7) vardır. Folik asit kullanımının NTD oluşma riskini azaltabildiğini veya ortadan kaldırabildiğini bilen 32 (%22,5) kadındır. Folik asit kullanma durumuna bakıldığında 66 kadın (%46,5) sadece gebeliğin erken döneminde, 17 kadın (%12,0) ise hem gebelik öncesi hem gebeliğin erken döneminde folik asit kullanmıştır. Anket uygulandıktan sonra katılımcılara folik asit kullanımı konusunda eğitim verilmiştir.Sonuç: Düzce Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Anabilim dalı Obstetri polikliniğinde yapılan bu çalışmada gebe kadınlarda folik asidin farkındalığı, bilgi düzeyi ve kullanımı düşük bulunmuştur. Gebelerde folik asit kullanımını yaygınlaştırmak ve folik asidin NTD’lerini önlediği hakkında farkındalığı artırmak için halka, sağlık eğitimi verilmelidir.

In the days following the conception, neural tube forms in the embryo and closes at the end of the 4th week. It is not possible to complete the formation of the neural tube in some situations that exact cause is unknown, but many factors seem to play role together, and severe congenital anomalies called neural tube defects occur. Generally women are not aware of their pregnancy in the first few weeks that embryonic development is critical. For this reason, folic acid use is important before pregnancy. Folic acid, one of the water-soluble group B vitamins, has been found to facilitate the cell cycle, which is extremely critical in closing the neural tube. It has been proven by randomized controlled trials that folic acid use before pregnancy and during the first 3 months of gestation reduces neural tube defects up to 70%. Despite its role in preventing congenital anomalies, folic acid use rates in the preconceptional period are inadequate. In our study, it was aimed to examine women's knowledge levels about folic acid use, and preconceptional folic acid use among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In the present study, we aimed to analyze comorbid conditions associated with operated myelomeningocele and their relationship with folic acid usage during pregnancy. Material and Method: Eighty-one newborns who were operated on due to myelomeningocele were included in this study. The patient's files were retrospectively reviewed, and the data of the patients were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups: folic acid users and non-folic acid users during pregnancy. The two groups were compared in terms of weight, height, hemogram, biochemistry, time of diagnosis, delivery method, maturity, localization, type (meningocel or myelomeningocel), neurological deficit, scoliosis, hydrocephalus, timing of surgery, ventriculomegaly, treatment method, additional pathology, tethered cord syndrome, dermal sinus, maternal disease, and number of malformations such as cerebrospinal fluid fistula. Results: The rate of folic acid usage during the antenatal period was 44.4%. Myelomeningocele was located in lumbar (40.7%) and sacral (46.9%) regions. The rate of operation with early diagnosis newborn (1

Aim: In this study, it was aimed to determine the knowledge status of folic acid, the awareness of folic acid, the use of active folic acid, whether it was used before pregnancy and the factors affecting the use of folic acid in pregnants who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic. Material and Methods: Between 15 and 31 January 2017, 355 women who applied to Duzce University Medical Faculty Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic forms the universe. Sample was not selected. The questionnaire consisting of 17 questions was conducted by face to face interview technique on 142 pregnant women who accepted to participate the survey. Results: The mean age of 142 participants who participate the study was 28.2±6.1 (min=17, max=42). Women who participated the study were pregnant average 2.4±1.4 (min=1, max=6). The mean age at first pregnancy was 22.9±4.8 (min=14, max=39). The number of women who expressed folic acid correctly was 55 (38,7%), who think that they have fed enough food which include folic acid was 82 (57.7%), and who knew the correct definition of neural tube defect (NTD) was 11 (7.7%). In the study group, there were 1 female (0.7%) who gave birth to NTD in her previous pregnancy. 32 (22.5%) females knew that using folic acid could reduce or eliminate the risk of NTD formation. İn terms of time to use folic acid, 66 women (46.5%) used folic acid only in the early period of pregnancy and 17 women (12.0%) used folic acid both before pregnancy and early pregnancy. After the questionnaire was administered, participants were trained in the use of folic acid. Conclusion: This study was conducted in the Duzce University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and found that folic acid awareness, folic acid knowledge level and folic acid use of pregnant women were low. Health education should be given to the public to extend the use of folic acid in pregnancies and increase awareness about folic acid prevent NTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Folic acid supplementation during the pre-conception period and first trimester of pregnancy reduces the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs). In this study, our aim is to investigate knowledge and use of folic acid among women attending our clinic. Material and Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2012, 817 participants, consisting of 345 pregnant and 472 non-pregnant women, were enrolled in this survey. A questionnaire including socio-de-mographic information, knowledge and use of folic acid was applied. Results: 48.2% of participants were aware of folic acid for the prevention of congenital anomalies. Knowledge and use of folic acid increase with socio-economic status and educational level. Participants who were already knowledgeable about folic acid cited health care professionals as common sources of information. Although 88.2% of the pregnancies were planned among the currently pregnant women, only 14.2% of them stated that they had used folic acid in the pre-conception period. The use of folic acid during the first trimester among pregnant women was 48.6%. Furthermore, 18.4% of participants had not used folic acid and 29.3% of them had not remembered whether they had or not. Even though 94.4% of health care professionals had heard about folic acid, 28.3% reported that they had used folic acid before pregnancy. Conclusion: It is thought that there is a relatively high incidence of NTD in Turkey, which is due to inadequate information about NTDs and the use of folic acid. Primarily health care professionals such as midwives, nurses and family physicians should aim to inform all re productive age women about folic acid for the prevention of NTDs, who should be encouraged to take the supplement when planning pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]