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Factors associated with folic acid knowledge and intake among pregnant women in Sudan

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Mohamed A. Alsammani 1,2, Abdelillah Kunna 2 and Elsheikh M. Adam 3

معلومات ومحددات تناول حمض الفوليك بين النساء الحوامل في أم درمان، السودان

محمد الخاتم السمانى، عبد الإله كنه، الشيخ محمد آدم

الخلاصة: من المعروف أن استخدام حمض الفوليك قبل الحمل له أثر وقائي ضد عيوب الأنبوب العصبي. وقد عمدت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم معلومات ومحددات الوعي باستخدام حمض الفوليك في صفوف النساء الحوامل في مستشفى الولادة بأم درمان في السودان خلال عام 2014. واستُخدم استبيان موحد مجهّل الأسماء من أجل جمع البيانات. وتبين أن نحو 80 % من المستجيبات قد سمعن عن حمض الفوليك من قبل. وسجلت النساء الجامعيات (92.2 %) معرفة أعلى بحمض الفوليك كما استخدمنه أكثر من غيرهن في مرحلة ما قبل الحمل (8.3 %). وشكل الأطباء أكثر المصادر شيوعا للمعلومات المتعلقة بحمض الفوليك (62 %). وتبين أن عدد أقل من أفراد الدراسة (8.9 %) كن على معرفة بأن حمض الفوليك يحول دون حدوث عيوب ولادية، وأن 33.8 % المشاركات كن على معرفة بأن الخضروات الورقية تمثل مصدراً من مصادر حمض الفوليك. وأن 3.2 % فقط تستخدمنه في مرحلة ما قبل الحمل. وارتبط مستوى الوعي بالعيش في المناطق الحضرية، وارتفاع مستوى التعليم، والحصول على رعاية ما قبل الولادة (P

ABSTRACT Preconceptual folic acid use is known to have a protective effect against neural tube defects (NTDs). This study assessed knowledge and determinants of awareness on folic acid use among pregnant women at Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Sudan during 2014. The standardized, anonymous questionnaire was used to collect data. Almost 80% of respondents had heard of folic acid. College-educated women (92.2%) knew more about folic acid and used it more often in the pre-conceptual period (8.3%). Doctors were the commonest source of information on folic acid (62%). Fewer subjects (8.9%) knew that it prevented birth defects, and 33.8% of subjects knew that green leafy vegetables are a source of folic acid. Of all subjects, only 3.2% use it pre-conceptually. Supplementation of folic acid preconceptually needs to be addressed in order to reduce the rate of NTDs found in Sudan.

Facteurs associés aux connaissances et déterminants concernant l’apport en acide folique parmi les femmes en âge de procréer au Soudan

RÉSUMÉ La consommation d’acide folique avant la conception est connue pour avoir un effet protecteur contre les anomalies du tube neural (ATD). La présente étude avait pour objectif d’évaluer les connaissances et déterminants de la sensibilisation à la consommation d’acide folique parmi les femmes enceintes à la maternité de l’hôpital d’Omdourman au Soudan en 2014. Un questionnaire, standardisé et anonyme, a été utilisé pour collecter des données. Près de 80 % des répondants avaient déjà entendu parler de l’acide folique. Les femmes ayant reçu une éducation universitaire (92,2 %) en savaient plus sur l’acide folique et en consommaient davantage souvent durant la période préconceptionnelle (8,3 %). Les médecins étaient la source d’information la plus courante sur l’acide folique (62 %). Un nombre inférieur de sujets (8,9 %) étaient conscients que l’acide folique permet de prévenir les malformations congénitales et 33,8 % des sujets savaient que les légumes vert à feuilles constituent une source d’acide folique. Parmi tous les sujets, seulement 3,2 % en consommaient avant la conception. La supplémentation préconceptionnelle en acide folique doit être prise en compte afin de réduire la forte incidence des ATD constatées au Soudan.

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Al-Mulida, Saudi Arabia (Correspondence to: Mohamed A. Alsammani: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Bahri, Khartoum, Sudan. 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Omdurman, Sudan.

Received: 13/10/15; accepted: 15/01/17

Introduction

Many studies have shown associations between neural tube defects and inadequate maternal intake of folic acid before or during pregnancy and that folic acid supplementation could reduce neural tube defects (1–4). It has been recommended that during routine gynaecological visits women of reproductive age should be counselled to adjust their daily folic acid intake (5).

It has been reported that more than 300 000 cases of neural tube defects occur worldwide each year, and many are in low-income countries (6). While the incidence of neural tube defects is falling in the United States of America (USA) and Western Europe, these congenital abnormalities remain a significant health problem in Africa (6).

In the United Kingdom, the birth prevalence of neural tube defects per 1000 births decreased by 93%, from 3.6 in 1964 to 0.3 in 2004; this decline was due to the adequate intake of folic acid (7). A study in Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Sudan in 2003/2004reported an incidence of neural tube defects of 3.5 per 1000 deliveries (8). None of mothers of babies with neural tube defects or the control mothers had received preconception folate supplements. This high incidence of neural tube defects may indicates a lack of knowledge and adequate intake of folic acid among pregnant women in Omdurman Maternity Hospital. All women receiving antenatal care at Omdurman Maternity Hospital are advised to take folic acid tablets during pregnancy.

No previous study has been conducted among Sudanese women of reproductive age about their awareness and intake of folic acid. The aim of the present study therefore was to determine knowledge of folic acid and the determinants of folic acid use among pregnant women attending Omdurman Maternity Hospital.

Methods

Study design

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Omdurman Maternity Hospital, Sudan from August 2014 to January 2015. The population of Omdurman city was 2 395 159 in 2008.Founded in 1957, Omdurman Maternity Hospital is the largest tertiary maternity hospital in Sudan with 25 000–30 000 births a year. In addition to the city population, the hospital serves a large non-urban area.

Study sample and sample size

The study sample was drawn from women who were visiting the antenatal clinics of Omdurman Maternity Hospital for routine antenatal care during the study period, August 2014 to January 2015. All women attending the antenatal clinic who were willing to participate were included in the study.

In estimating the prevalence of folic acid awareness, it was assumed that the results for Sudan would be similar to that of Nigeria at 64% (9). With an error rate of 2.5%, a level of significance (type 1 error) of 1%, and 99% confidence interval (CI), a sample size of 1048 women was needed to achieve the objective of our study assuming10% nonresponse.

Data collection

Data were collected using a questionnaire administered to each woman by a senior registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology. The questionnaire consisted of data on the knowledge and use of folic acid, sources of knowledge, period folic acid was taken, and knowledge of the potential benefits of taking folic acid supplements. In addition, selected sociodemographic and obstetric data were gathered: age, education, occupation, residence, parity, prior abortions, booking status (i.e. early 1st trimester antenatal visit with booking to deliver in the hospital), antenatal care use and trimester when antenatal care was started.

The questionnaire contained criteria for folic acid intake and knowledge related to trimester of pregnancy. Questions used to assess knowledge were whether respondents had ever heard about folic acid (yes/no) and whether they knew the appropriate time to take folic acid (preconception, first trimester, throughout pregnancy or never). Furthermore, participants were asked if they knew the beneficial effects of folic acid (protection against neural tube defects) and the sources of food containing folic acid (green vegetables). Preconception intake of folic acid is considered effective use based on WHO recommendations (10) and green vegetables were considered an appropriate source of folic acid

Statistical analysis

SPSS, version 15.0 was used to record and analyse the data. Descriptive analyses were used: proportions were compared between women who had heard of folic acid and those who had not. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed, one with awareness of folic acid as the dependent variable, and the other with preconception intake of folic acidas the dependent variable. The independent variables included in the analyses were: age (

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the ethics committees of the Sudanese specialization board and the Omdurman Maternity Hospital. Informed verbal consent to participate in the study was obtained from each women.

Results

A total of 1 300 women were approached and 1 150 aged 18–45 years agreed to participate and were interviewed; of these, 1 000 (86.9%) women were included in the study, while 150 were excluded because of incomplete information (declined to give information).

Table 1 shows the characteristics of the women and their knowledge and intake of folic acid. Of the 1 000 women included in the study, 813 (81.3%) had heard of folic acid. Of those who had heard of folic acid, the highest proportion (85.7%) was in the age group < 18 years and the lowest was the 41 years and older age group (72.4%). Awareness was highest among multiparous women (parity 1–4) (85.1%) and women who had a university degree or higher (88.8%). With regard to folic acid intake, few women (< 4%) took it during the preconception period but more women who had a university degree or higher used it in the first trimester (66.3%) than less educated women.

The majority of the women (91.2%) had attended at least one antenatal care visit, 72.9% of whom were booked. The majority of the women 61.3 % (n = 613) had started their antenatal care in the first trimester.

Table 2 shows the participants’ knowledge about folic acid. With regard to sources of information on the benefits of folic acid, 62% of the women got their information from doctors, followed by newspapers at 21%; the least mentioned source of information was family members, 3%. The greatest proportion of the women (24.7%) stated that folic acid prevents anaemia; few women (8.9%) knew that it prevents birth defects. In addition, only 3.8% of the women were aware that green leafy vegetables were rich in folic acid.

Table 3 show the multivariable logistic regression analysis of the factors associated with ever having heard about folic acid. The variables significantly associated with awareness of folic acid were living in urban areas (OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.51–3.21, P < 0.001), and attending antenatal care (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.27–3.96, P = 0.005). Maternal age, occupation, parity, the time of starting antenatal care, prior abortion and being booked were not associated with folic acid awareness.

Multivariable logistic regression analysis of the association between sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and preconception use of folic acid is shown in Table 4. Preconception use of folic acid was significantly associated with living in urban areas (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.35–2.40, P < 0.001), past history of abortion (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.05–1.92, P = 0.022), being booked (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.16–2.25, P = 0.005) and first trimester enrollment in antenatal care (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.07–2.73, P = 0.024).

Discussion

In the present study, about 80% of the women had heard about folic acid, but only 8.9% knew that folic acid prevents birth defects and 3.2% used it during the preconception period, while 55.2% used it during the first trimester. Information about folic acid was mostly from physicians (62%) and 33.8% of the participants knew that green leafy vegetables are rich in folic acid. A higher level of education, living in an urban area and attending antenatal care were significantly associated with awareness of folic acid. In addition, higher level of education, living in an urban area, first trimester enrollment in antenatal care and being booked were significantly associated with preconception use of folic acid.

The level of awareness of folic acid in the present study (80%) is higher than that reported in Egypt (62.4%) (11), Lebanon (60%) (12) and Nigeria (37%) (13), but lower than the prevalence reported from Jordon (93.4%) (14) and Saudi Arabia (88.4%) (15) (Table 5). In our study, a large proportion of the women aged18–30 years (82.9%) had heard of folic acid, which is in agreement with previously published data (16). A possible reason for this awareness is that women in this age group are just starting their reproductive lives and may be more receptive to information compared with older mothers.

Almost half of all birth defects are of unknown causes. For neural tube defects, folate deficiency is considered the most important nutritional risk factor, and supplementation with preconception folic acid has been associated with a reduced risk of neural tube defects (17,18). The World Health Organization recommends that all women when first trying to conceive should take a daily supplementation of 400 μg of folic acid and continue until 12 weeks of gestation (19).According to our study, despite the high level of awareness of folic acid, only 3.2% of the women used it before conception, which is lower than in other Middle East countries including Lebanon (6.2%) (12), Egypt (8.8%) (11), Jordon (16.9%) (14) and Israel (17.6%) (1) (Table 5). This difference in preconception use can be explained by differences in educational levels between countries.

The most common source of information on folic acid in the present study was doctors (62%), followed by newspapers (21%); this result is in accordance with previously regional data (11,12,14,18). However, the fact that most women knew about folic acid but so few used it before conception indicates that there is a real need for a regional campaign to motivate women to take folic acid supplements as recommended. Furthermore, folic acid intake can be improved by administration of folic acid during premarital health evaluation for genetic abnormalities and serology screening as done in China, and by educating couples about the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects. In China, premarital health examination increased adequate use by 20% (20).The United States Food and Drug Administration started the policy of folic acid fortification of grain products to increase the intake of women during their reproductive years by a daily dose of 100 μg (21). This policy resulted in a decline in the prevalence of spina bifida by 31% and neural tube defects by 6% (22).

Of the women surveyed, only 8.9% knew that folic acid prevents birth defects. This percentage is comparable to the rate in Qatar (8.7%) (23), but lower than rates in Saudi Arabia (15) and the United Arab Emirates (24), 11.2% and 14% respectively. In our study, lack of knowledge and less preconception use of folic acid may explain the high rate of neural tube defects prevalence (12.5/10 000 births) in our setting (25),compared with rates of 2/10 000, 3.3/10 000, and 0.4/10 000 births reported from Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia respectively (25).

The present study demonstrated the association between awareness of folic acid and living in urban areas, higher-level of education and antenatal care attendance. This finding is consistent with previous studies which concluded that women with higher education knew more about folic acid and were more likely to use it (2,20). Women living in rural areas and having a lower education level knew less about folic acid and were less likely to use it (9). Also, our study showed a significant association between preconception use of folic acid and living in urban areas, being booked, a higher level of education and antenatal care attendance. On the other hand, some studies failed to demonstrate any association between sociodemographic characteristics and folic acid use (25).

As our study was in only one hospital in Sudan rather than a multicentre study, our sample may not be representative of the population so the results cannot be generalized to wider population. Further studies in other parts of Sudan would be useful to provide information on folic acid use for the whole country.

Conclusion

Our study has shown that the preconception use of folic acid among women in Omdurman is inadequate. Women who had higher education, lived in urban areas, were booked, and had attended antenatal care knew more about preconception use of folic acid and used it significantly more. Doctors were the main source of information on folic acid.

Given the low rates of use of folic acid found in our study and the high prevalence of neural tube defects in Sudan, programmes to promote folic acid use and supplementation with folic acid at the time of premarital examination until the end of the first trimester are warranted.

Funding: None.

Competing interests: None declared.

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