Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Limited Knowledge About Folic Acid And Iodine Nutrition In Pregnant Women Reflected In Supplementation Practices, Souad Elmani, Karen E. Charlton, Victoria M. Flood, Judy Mullan

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Aim In order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and iodine deficiency in pregnancy, the National Health and Medical Research Council recommends that pregnant women supplement their diet with folic acid and iodine. This study aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women regarding intake of these nutrients in order to assess whether women are adequately exposed to this health message. Methods One hundred and fifty-two conveniently sampled pregnant women residing in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia, completed a pretested questionnaire on knowledge and practices regarding nutritional supplement use during pregnancy …