Abstract:
Objective To analyze the knowledge,attitude,and use of folic acid among pregnant women in rural areas of Gansu province.
Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to September in 2009 among 2 094 preg-nant women from two counties in Gansu province.Face-to-face interviewwas used to obtain information.
Results Among the women,32.18% heard about folic acid,and there was a significant difference between the two counties(χ
2=17.40,
P < 0.05).There were 26.17% of the women knewthat folic acid could prevent neural tube defects and there was a significant difference between the two counties(χ
2=45.50,
P < 0.05).About 36.29% of the women considered that folic acid should be taken both before pregnancy and during early pregnancy,and there was a significant difference between two counties(χ
2=7.369,
P < 0.05).The prevalence of folic acid supplementation was 25.36% in the pregnant women,and there was a significant difference between the two countries(χ
2=28.81,
P < 0.05).
Conclusion Knowledge,attitude,and behavior about folic acid intake are extremely lowamong the pregnant women in countryside of Gansu province which will influence the effect of folic acid intervention.