Effects of a simple educational intervention in well-baby clinics on women's knowledge about and intake of folic acid supplements in the periconceptional period: a controlled trial. Issue 6 (27th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Smit, Denhard J; Weinreich, Stephanie S; Cornel, Martina C
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 18:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 1119
• Page End: 1126
• Publication Date: 2014-05-27
• Subjects: Health promotion, -- Folic acid supplements, -- Preconception care; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980014000986
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To test the hypothesis that a concise intervention to promote the preconception use of folic acid (FA) supplements among mothers who visit a well-baby clinic (WBC) for the 6-month check-up of their youngest child is effective. Effectiveness was measured as intention to use or actual use of FA supplements before a next pregnancy among women who expected to be pregnant within 0–12 months. Design: Controlled intervention study with independent samples of intervention and control mothers. The intervention took place at the 6-month visit. A post-intervention measurement was done in the intervention group and a comparable measurement in the control group at the 11-month check-up visit. Setting: The intervention, verbal and in writing, was implemented in four Dutch WBC and given by the WBC physician to the mothers who visited the WBC. Subjects: All mothers visiting the WBC were eligible for inclusion, unless they were unable to complete a questionnaire. The intervention group consisted of 198 (68 %) mothers recruited from 291 6-month intervention visits and the control group of 215 (84 %) mothers recruited from 255 11-month normal visits. Results: In mothers who expected to be pregnant within 0–12 months, the proportion using or intending to use FA was 65 % in the intervention group ( n 49) v . 42 % in the control group ( n 43; difference 23 %, 95 % CI 4, 43 %, P <0·05). Conclusions: Health education intervention at the 6-month WBC visit is an effective means to promote the use of FA supplements or the intention to do so.