Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Awareness of spina bifida and periconceptional use of folic acid among pregnant women in a developing economy
Child's Nervous System, Volume 28, No. 12, Year 2012
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background Folate deficiency in pregnant women is a recognized cause of spina bifida. We sought to establish the level of awareness of spina bifida as well as the use of folate supplementation among pregnant women in a developing economy. Method Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information from 200 to 20 randomly selected pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the authors' institution. Demographic information and information on parity, folic acid use and knowledge on spina bifida including its cause, prevention and treatment were obtained. Data analyses were done using Epi Info version 6. Results The mean age of the women was 30.3 years (range 17-52 years). Sixty-six of the women (30.0 %) were primigravida. Most of the respondents [208 (94.5 %)] have attained, at least, secondary level of education. The average gestational age at antenatal clinic booking was 20.7 weeks (range 4-38 weeks), while the average gestational age at commencement of folic acid use was 18.5 weeks (range 4- 38 weeks). None of them used folic acid in the preconception period. Knowledge about spina bifida is poor and a significant number [103 (46.8 %)] have superstitious belief about its aetiology. Only 56 (25.5 %) of the respondents are aware that folic acid use prevents its occurrence; however, 194 (88.2 %) are willing to receive periconceptional folate supplementation. Conclusion There is paucity of knowledge about spina bifida among Nigerian pregnant women despite their high level of formal education. We advocate an aggressive public health campaign to enlighten the women about spina bifida and encourage periconceptional folate supplementation. © Springer-Verlag 2012.
Authors & Co-Authors
Rabiu, Taopheeq Bamidele
Nigeria
Federal Medical Centre Nigeria
Tiamiyu, Liadi Olanrewaju
Nigeria
Federal Medical Centre Nigeria
Awoyinka, Babatunde S.
Nigeria
Federal Medical Centre Nigeria
Statistics
Citations: 24
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s00381-012-1879-5
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Participants Gender
Female