GEBELERİN PREKONSEPSİYONEL DÖNEMDE FOLİK ASİT BİLGİSİ, KULLANIM PREVALANSI VE İLİŞKİLİ FAKTÖRLER.

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]