Knowledge and intake of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects among pregnant women in urban China: a cross-sectional study

Folic acid (FA) is an essential vitamin and is often used as a supplement [1]. Folate is required for fetal growth and development. If the mother’s dietary intake of folate is inadequate during pregnancy, neural tube defects (NTDs) may occur [2, 3]. In many countries, periconceptional FA supplementation has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of pregnancies complicated with NTDs [4‐6].

The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) recommends that reproductive-age women who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 400 µg FA daily from enriched foods and supplements [7, 8]; many other countries have made similar recommendations to prevent NTDs [9‐12]. The World Health Organization recommends periconceptional FA supplementation, that is, all women should take a daily supplement of 400 µg FA from the moment they plan to conceive until 12 weeks of gestation [13]. However, despite these recommendations and national campaigns, periconceptional intake of additional FA remains very low in many countries [14]. Studies in Japan have found that the prevalence of inadequate FA use varies from 84.5% to 96.2%, according to geographic location, and the lack of awareness about the importance of periconceptional FA supplementation is a main reason for inadequate FA intake [15].

In 2009, a health policy called “Supplementing Folic Acid to Prevent NTD” (SFAPN) was initiated by the Chinese government. The program provides FA supplements, free of charge, to all women who have a rural registration (as opposed to urban registration) and who plan to become pregnant [16]. Under this policy, rural women of childbearing age can receive a daily supplement of 400 µg FA supplied at village health posts [17, 18]. There are disparities in the consumption of FA in China, with rural pregnant women reporting low daily FA consumption in comparison with their urban counterparts [19‐23]. Data from the China Birth Defect Surveillance Center show that the incidence of NTDs in rural areas (21.11/10,000) is higher than that in urban areas (10.08/10,000), suggesting that a lack of awareness about the importance of FA intake in rural areas might play a critical role in the incidence of NTDs [24].

With the development of urbanization, many pregnant women who now live in cities have migrated from rural areas. Women’s awareness about the need for periconceptional FA supplements and compliance with recommendations has not been fully studied in urban areas of China. However, there are considerable differences in the rates of compliance with preconception FA supplement use among pregnant women according to demographic characteristics such as education and income [25]. Identifying related factors affecting the failure of some women to correctly take preconception FA supplements could help to improve certain strategies aimed at increasing FA use to reduce birth defects. Further evidence is needed in some countries to improve compliance with pre-pregnancy FA supplementation among pregnant women. Thus, the aim of the present study was to better understand the relationship between knowledge about FA and use of FA, as well as to evaluate factors associated with the likelihood of FA use among pregnant women in urban China.

We assessed the relationship between knowledge about FA and use of FA, as well as factors affecting FA supplementation before pregnancy among pregnant women in four cities (Beijing, Huaibei, Kunming, and Haikou) of China. Approximately 82% of women in this study knew that intake of FA during the periconceptional period is an effective way of preventing NTDs, which is higher than the rates of FA awareness in Israel, Turkey, Canada, Qatar, Egypt and Iran [14, 28‐32]. The best method to prevent NTDs is to ensure that women of childbearing age are taking appropriate amounts of FA daily. This requires them to be aware of when and how to take FA supplements. The present study found that most women were aware of the benefits of FA supplementation, but only 65.9% of them knew both that FA prevents NTDs and the appropriate time to take FA. To remind pregnant women about the importance of taking FA at any point during the 3 months before pregnancy, in the future, the content of public health information should be more detailed, emphasizing the correct time and importance of taking FA.

Regarding factors related to knowledge about FA, our study found that in northern and southern China, gravidity (primigravida and multigravida status), educational level, planned pregnancy, and residence were related to the total rate of knowledge about FA. This finding is consistent with other studies in the literature reporting that women with higher education levels are more likely to correctly take FA-containing supplements than those with low education levels [18]. Pregnant women with lower education levels may lack awareness, knowledge, and confidence regarding the national recommendations for FA supplementation. They might be unaware of the benefits of FA for healthy fetal growth and development, and the potential susceptibility to and severity of NTDs caused by folate deficiency [33]. Pregnant women with higher education levels have greater awareness and knowledge about FA, can accept new information and master the correct method of taking FA as soon as possible, and have more ways to obtain knowledge, which makes it easier for these women to access FA-related information and take better care of their own health. Therefore, the awareness about FA among pregnant women with university-level educations was significantly higher than that among pregnant women with low education levels.

We found that women living in the north of China had greater awareness about FA than those living in the south. Since 1993, the Chinese government has developed strategies targeting women of childbearing age to promote the use of FA for the prevention of NTDs [18]. Previous studies have also investigated FA intervention programs carried out in the north prior to the national program and implementation of health education because the prevalence of NTDs in the north is higher than that in the south [26]. We found that women who were multigravida were less likely to know about FA than those who were primigravida, but this relationship was not statistically significant. Women who were multigravida were more likely to take FA before pregnancy than those who were primigravida. This difference between “knowing” and “doing” may be owing to a recall bias among pregnant women regarding details before pregnancy. In fact, women who are multigravida are more likely to receive counseling services and information about FA and its role in preventing NTD, resulting in better compliance with FA intake. This finding is also consistent with a study among Lebanese women [34]. Concerned public health experts should continue to call for the reimbursement of FA supplements. Physicians dealing with women of childbearing age should be reminded to recommend FA during prenuptial visits [34]. A few previous studies have reported that the rates of knowledge about FA among women who have migrated from rural to urban areas were not high; this issue requires greater attention. Most pregnant women who have migrated from rural areas have low educational levels. Our study also showed that pregnant women with unplanned pregnancy were less likely to know about the importance of FA during pregnancy. Our study indicated that only half of the pregnant women who knew the correct time of FA intake took it at the right time. We also found that pregnant women who had planned pregnancy had a greater likelihood of knowing about FA (adjusted OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.30–3.04), which was consistent with other studies [34]. This finding can be explained by the fact that Chinese women who have unplanned pregnancy and who migrate from rural areas are less likely to receive counseling services and information about taking FA at the right time. Strategies to increase awareness about FA supplementation to prevent NTDs among these women are important.

The Chinese government launched a campaign targeting rural areas to increase awareness about the role of FA in preventing NTDs [17]. FA supplementation measures implemented by the government of China to decrease the prevalence of NTDs and other birth defects include NFPHEP preconception counseling services to provide education about the importance of FA supplementation and increase awareness about FA and SFAPN, thereby improving levels of knowledge and FA intake. In this study, more than one-third (60/169) of pregnant women who migrated from rural areas did not participate in the NFPHEP, including some women with unplanned pregnancies or who did not know about the project. Additionally, physicians such as those responsible for preconception health assessments, obstetricians and gynecologists, and general practitioners are the main sources of information about FA. Among women who reported that they had ever heard of FA, 58.9% stated that they had received this information from one of the above medical professionals. Consistent with previous studies conducted in the Mediterranean region and in Glasgow [35], our study suggested the need for ongoing education among health care providers who are most likely to interact with women during the reproductive period before conception. Further action should be taken by policy makers to reinforce supervision of the quality of the health care network to ensure that women obtain sufficient knowledge about FA. At present, most people pay more attention to the safe use of drugs and health products, but the lack of professional knowledge and standardized access to information regarding intake of FA is not optimal. The target population cannot be covered completely only via the information provided by doctors. Therefore, population characteristics and needs must be identified to target and enrich FA knowledge channels such as webblog, WeChat, and text messaging (SMS) [18]. This can improve access to FA knowledge and increase awareness about FA in the target population.

Neural tube closure occurs between days 22 and 28 after conception, and therefore increased FA intake before pregnancy is strongly advised, but this is often not achieved [36]. Our findings indicated that 95.1% of women took FA supplements before and after pregnancy and fewer than half of them began to take FA before becoming pregnant. This was higher than the proportions reported in previous studies conducted in Canada and northern China [26, 29]. Additionally, only 35.5% of women from rural areas began taking FA before pregnancy. Consistent with previous studies [29], only 28.7% (123/428) of our participants had begun to take FA supplementation 3 months before conception and 17.5% (75/428) started taking FA 1 month before conception. Our study indicated that only half of the pregnant women who knew the correct time of FA intake took it at the right time. Women who knew about FA were significantly more likely to take FA before pregnancy than those who did not (P = 0.010). Consistent with previous studies [18, 37], poor awareness and knowledge regarding FA is a risk factor that contributes to this poor compliance with taking FA at the right time. Therefore, the target population should be made fully aware of the importance of taking FA during pregnancy via various forms of health education, so that they can master the correct time and dose of taking FA, thereby increasing the rate of FA intake.

Regarding factors related to taking FA at the appropriate time, our findings showed that factors that contribute to poor compliance with taking FA supplements before pregnancy may include unplanned pregnancy and being a homemaker. Consistent with another study [38], our findings showed that pregnant women who were employed were more likely to take FA at the correct time (adjusted OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.21–3.11) than women who were not employed or who were homemakers. Pregnant women with an occupation have their own economic resources, and their financial independence is stronger than women who are not working or who are homemakers. The rate of taking FA among pregnant women with an occupation was significantly higher than that among unemployed women or homemakers. The health level of individuals is related to socioeconomic conditions. Most pregnant women who purchase FA supplements or compound vitamins containing FA for themselves have sufficient financial resources through their own employment. Consistent with a previous study [39], we found that pregnant women who had a planned pregnancy had a higher likelihood of taking FA at the appropriate time (adjusted OR = 6.18, 95% CI 4.01–9.53). Our findings showed that pregnancy planning was positively associated with the consumption of FA supplements during the periconception period. This could be explained by the fact that women did not take FA until they became pregnant, and compliance among pregnant women with taking FA is poor. Despite recommendations and national campaigns, intake of additional FA at the correct time remains insufficiently high in some cities of China. This finding can be explained by the fact that Chinese women who have unplanned pregnancy and who migrate from rural areas are less likely to receive counseling services and information about taking FA at the right time and may therefore miss the best time to take FA, whereas women who have had a healthy live birth may believe that there is no need to take FA because they have given birth successfully. In the SFAPN and NFPHEP programs, doctors oversee nutritional education, providing FA supplements and following up on the use of FA during the periconceptional period. Improving pregnancy planning (including preconception health examinations and preconception counseling services) could improve awareness and intake of FA during the periconceptional period. Women who are planning pregnancy seek maternal and gynecological care from doctors or general practitioners, including attending regular monthly or bi-monthly follow-up visits to record the condition of their pregnancy and improve management. It is easy to follow up and monitor FA use in the daily activities of these women because they have greater opportunities to consult with doctors or general practitioners and receive more information about FA. To give birth to a healthy baby and prevent birth defects, women planning pregnancy should pay greater attention to their health before as well as during pregnancy. Pregnancy planning is an ideal time to adopt behaviors that can improve the health of both mother and fetus [29]. It is important to encourage pregnancy planning among women, especially those who have migrated from rural to urban areas to improve the rate of FA intake before pregnancy.

Despite the fact that most of our respondents knew about FA, the actual rate of FA use at the appropriate time during the pre-pregnancy period was not high among our population of women in urban China. Women living in southern China, those who had unplanned pregnancy, women with lower education levels, and those who were immigrants from rural areas had lower levels of knowledge about FA. Women who were homemakers, had migrated from rural regions, and those who had an unplanned pregnancy were less likely to begin taking FA during the pre-pregnancy period. These findings suggest that public health campaigns are urgently needed, with the aim to increase awareness, knowledge, and use of FA at the correct time among women of reproductive age. Special attention should be given to less-educated women, homemakers, those living in southern China, women with unplanned pregnancy, and those who have migrated from rural areas. It is also necessary to encourage pregnancy planning to improve the rate of FA intake among women before pregnancy.