Uptake of folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy: focus group analysis of women's views and experiences.

Autor:	Barbour, R. S., Macleod, M., Mires, G., Anderson, A. S.
Předmět:	NEURAL tube defect prevention HEALTH promotion DECISION making DIETARY supplements FOCUS groups FOLIC acid HEALTH attitudes MEMORY MIDWIVES NAUSEA PREGNANCY complications QUESTIONNAIRES RESEARCH funding SOUND recordings TIME management VOMITING WOMEN'S health QUALITATIVE research JUDGMENT sampling DATA analysis QUANTITATIVE research THEMATIC analysis HEALTH literacy DATA analysis software DESCRIPTIVE statistics PREGNANCY
Zdroj:	Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics; Apr2012, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p140-147, 8p, 1 Diagram, 1 Chart
Abstrakt:	How to cite this article Barbour R.S., Macleod M., Mires G. & Anderson A.S. (2012) Uptake of folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy: focus group analysis of women's views and experiences. J Hum Nutr Diet. 25, 140-147 Abstract Background: To reduce risk of neural tube defects, current guidance recommends that all women who could become pregnant should take a daily 400 μg folic acid supplement before conception and until the 12th week of pregnancy. It is recognised that compliance with this guidance is sub-optimal, although little is known about the reasons why. The present study aims to explore the rationale behind women's decision-making on folic acid supplement use to inform health communications. Methods: Women attending routine health visitor led baby clinics completed a questionnaire to establish their folic acid use in their most recent pregnancy. Participants were then invited to join focus group discussions to explore motivators and barriers to folic acid supplement use before and during pregnancy. Results: Of 292 women approached, 211 (70%) provided information on supplement use. Of these, 67 (31%) reported having taken folic acid supplements as recommended; 118 (56%) only during pregnancy [22 (18%) only intermittently]; and 26 (12%) had not taken folic acid at all. Eight focus group discussions were held comprising 24 participants. Discussions indicated the rationale behind current recommendations was known. Participants often linked folic acid use with morning sickness, and invoked busy lives, competing priorities for concern, and poor memory in accounting for intermittent use. Building a 'lay evidence base' from their own experiences, many cited healthy pregnancy outcomes without supplement use and expressed scepticism about its preventive action. Conclusions: The findings of the present study highlight the importance of guidance on the importance of daily folic acid supplement use, the severity of neural tube defects and the provision of evidence on risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze:	Complementary Index
Externí odkaz:	Zobrazit plný text záznamu Plný text