There were factors that are particularly associated with lower rates of use of folic acid supplements .
One of the most important of these is the link with unintended pregnancy , followed by age , socio-economic and ethnic group .
Integrated campaigns can increase the use of folic acid supplements to some extent .
Research trials indicated that : ( i ) printed re sources and the mass media used in isolation are not effective in the longer term ; and ( ii ) health-care-based initiatives can be effective and are more likely to be successful if they include making supplements easily available .
Campaigns and interventions have the potential to exacerbate socio-economic inequalities in folic acid use .
However , even high- quality campaigns that increase use result in under half of women in the target group taking supplements
OBJECTIVE To provide a basis for making recommendations on the potential to improve use of folic acid supplements in the UK , particularly among low-income and young women .
Prevention of neural tube defects: effect of an intervention aimed at implementing the official recommendations
Summary .¶ Objectives : The periconceptional intake of 0.4 mg folic acid is recommended in many countries to prevent neural tube defects . This paper describes the poor implementation of corresponding guidelines in Germany , the effectiveness of an intervention-based on providing adequate information and the problems associated with the implementation.¶ Methods : Two cross sectional studies investigated knowledge , attitude , and behaviour of r and omly sample d gynaecologists ( n = 24/27 ) , pharmacists ( n = 21/21 ) , and women in childbed ( n = 131/118 ) before and after the information campaign.¶ Results : Before the intervention , 3.8 % of the women implemented  folic-acid-prophylaxis  compared with 9.3 % afterwards ( p = n.s . ) . The awareness of the prophylaxis before pregnancy correlated with socio-economic status and rose from 28 % ( before ) to 42 % after intervention ( p<0.05 ) . Before the intervention , 38 % of the gynaecologists and 38 % of the pharmacists recommended the prophylaxis compared with 74 % ( p<0.05 ) and 43 % ( p = n.s . ) afterwards.¶ Conclusions : The effect of the intervention was small . To improve the situation , fortification of specially selected and labelled food should be considered . An accompanying nation-wide information campaign should focus on women with lower socio-economic status
There were factors that are particularly associated with lower rates of use of folic acid supplements .
One of the most important of these is the link with unintended pregnancy , followed by age , socio-economic and ethnic group .
Integrated campaigns can increase the use of folic acid supplements to some extent .
Research trials indicated that : ( i ) printed re sources and the mass media used in isolation are not effective in the longer term ; and ( ii ) health-care-based initiatives can be effective and are more likely to be successful if they include making supplements easily available .
Campaigns and interventions have the potential to exacerbate socio-economic inequalities in folic acid use .
However , even high- quality campaigns that increase use result in under half of women in the target group taking supplements
OBJECTIVE To provide a basis for making recommendations on the potential to improve use of folic acid supplements in the UK , particularly among low-income and young women .