Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the awareness of the need for folic acid supplementation and also the actual intake during the periconceptional period to prevent neural tube defects.
Methods: The study involved a questionnaire survey conducted among 100 women attended the antenatal visit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka. The data were collected over the period of March 2022 to December 2022
Results: Out of 100 participants, 63% women had taken folic acid and, 37% have not taken folic acid. Out of 63% who have taken, 27% were aware about the benefits of folic acid intake and 36% was not aware about the benefits of folic acid. Out of 63% who has taken folic acid, 20.6% has taken folic acid pre-conceptionally and 79.3% has taken at the time of pregnancy.
Conclusion: The study showed that despite the fact that most of our respondents knew about Folic acid. But the actual rate of Folic acid use at the appropriate time during the pre-pregnancy period was not high among our population. A public health policy or strategy to increase the preconceptional use of folic acid is needed in our society.
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