Analysis of socio-economic factors on the impact of nutrition intervention for neural tube defects

Objective To analyze the socio-economic factors on the impact of multivitamin/folic acid supplementation in women of childbearing age,so as to provide the scientific evidence for approaches to conduct population-based inter vention for neural tube defects.Methods Seven provinces were selected in China,and,according to the level of economic development,one county and one city were sampled from the mid-level ones in each province.The respondents sampled by using multi-stage systematic and simple sampling in each country and city were those who were planning to make pregnancy or being pregnant during the survey.The total number of questionnaires collected was 5593.The survey mainly included the women's age,education,occupation,family economic status,the support of family members,the health services provided by the community,the knowledge and beliefs about birth defects,and the utilization of folic acid supplementation.Results Nearly 50% of the women were willing to use the multivitamin/folic acid supplementation,but those who were actually using it were only 3.4%.Support of family members was the key factor of requirement for the folic acid supplementation.Women's socio-economic status,support of family members,and better health services by community were key factors of use of folic acid supplementation.Conclusion Various socio-economic factors had impacton utilization of multiv itamin/folic acid supplementation in women of childbear ing age.So,to improve the cover age of women using the folic acid supplementation,we should establish a community-and-family-based intervention model.