The Awareness and the Use of Folic Acid During Pregnancy at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad

Volume 8 Issue 3 August - October 2018

Research Paper

The Awareness and the Use of Folic Acid During Pregnancy at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad

Victoria Samar*, Shireen Arif**, Rohama Samar***

* Senior Lecturer, People’s Nursing School, Liaqaut University Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan.

** Assistant Professor, Ziauddin University College of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan.

*** Resident, Internal Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Samar, V., Arif, S and Samar, R.(2018). The Awareness and The Use of Folic Acid During Pregnancy at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad. i-manager’s Journal on Nursing, 8(3),23-28. https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.8.3.14393

Abstract

Taking folic acid daily, before and during early pregnancy, has been proven to reduce risk of neural tube defect. The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge, awareness, and use of folic acid among pregnant females admitted in the gynecology ward. Awareness sessions were conducted for females admitted in the gynecology ward of Civil Hospital in Hyderabad. The data was collected using self-administered structured questionnaire. Questionnaire included inquiry on their demographic data, knowledge and use of folic acid, and knowledge about neural tube defect. A total of 100 pregnant females participated in the study. 100% females do not know about the neural tube defect deficiency of folic acid can cause neural tube defect. The data of the study showed that before providing awareness to the women regarding folic acid showed that 53% females did not know about folic acid whereas, this percentage decreases to 13%. 67% females did not know about the importance of folic acid before session. The awareness sessions increase the use and level of knowledge regarding folic acid among females of Hyderabad. The study concluded that awareness of Folic acid among pregnant women is very low in Hyderabad. The level of knowledge and use of folic acid could be increased through conducting awareness sessions. Public educational strategies about folic acid may improve its intake among women.