Awareness on taking folic acid among pregnant women who referred to heath centers in Iranshahr city (2010)

Folic acid is important vitamin in pregnancy because it is necessary in synthesis of DNA, protein and ery thro poesies. In pregnant folat deficiency women can induce fetal cardiac and neural defects and anemia in fetus and mothers, the goal of this study is to determine of awareness on taking folic acid among pregnant women who referred to health centers in Iranshahr city during 2010. This study was a descriptive and analytic (cross-sectional) study which was conducted on 400 pregnant and Iranian women who were recruited by Quota cluster sampling through referred to health centers in Iranshahr city during April to July 2010. Validity and reliability of tool gained through content validity and Alfa cronbach test. Data was collected in one time occasion and in person. Data analyzed by spss18, fisher, x2 and Pearson correlation tests. The mean age was 26.17 ± 5.6 and the mean awareness in mothers was 25.069±4.1 (minimum15 and maximum36). One percent of participitants had weak awareness, 83.3% moderate awareness and 9% good awareness. The most of correct phrase (the most of awareness) was folic acid have to use daily and folic acid is as tablet(75.8%).at least awareness was folic acid using have not contraindication in gastrointestinal disorder(50.3%).The greatest source information about folic acid were physician and health personnel(67.6%).More than half of samples (55.3%)were not taking folic acid in pregnancy period and most often they stated that they forgotten to take(32%).There was a significant relation between awareness and parental education, father's job, mother's age, ongoing consumption, anemia, history of preterm labor and abortion (p<0/05). As we considered more than half of sample (55.3%) were not taking folic acid during pregnancy and mosths they that they have forgotten. Therefore it is necessary to prepare extent programs about benefits of folic acid consumption and recall regular folic acid intake in every visit. In order folic acid taking before pregnancy should be educate it in constant consultant visits before marriage.