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 .
A randomized community intervention trial to increase awareness and knowledge of the role of periconceptional folate in women of child-bearing age.
OBJECTIVES : To determine the effect of a consumer-directed information campaign to increase knowledge of folate for the prevention of neural tube defects among women of child-bearing age , and to measure women 's recall of sources of information and knowledge about folate . DESIGN : A community r and omized trial . SETTING : Three matched pairs of geographically distinct Local Government Areas in the state of Victoria , Australia . INTERVENTION : Printed information recommending folate intake to decrease the risk of neural tube defects was disseminated to women of child-bearing age in three of the Local Government Areas selected r and omly . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE : The proportion of women aware of the association between folate and spina bifida . RESULTS : Of 1197 women interviewed prior to the intervention , 12.4 % ( adjusted for the cluster and population sampling unit ) were aware of folate and neural tube defects . After the intervention , there was not only a significant background increase of 3.4 % ( P=0.02 ) in folate awareness since the pre-intervention survey ( n=603 ) , but also a significant additional increase of 4.0 % ( P=0.04 ) owing to the intervention itself ( n=603 ) . Only 70 % of women who were aware of folate knew the correct timing . CONCLUSIONS : The provision of printed educational material can increase folate awareness among women of child-bearing age . A comprehensive , long-term and ongoing health promotion campaign including such material , together with initiatives by relevant health service providers and the food industry , could best address the current low levels of folate awareness among women of child-bearing age
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 .