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 .
Knowledge and Clinical Practice Regarding Folic Acid Among Obstetrician‐Gynecologists
Objective To assess obstetrician-gynecologists ' knowledge of and clinical practice concerning folate . Methods We mailed surveys on nutrition during pregnancy to the 230 ACOG Fellows who are members of the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network and to a r and om sample of 800 Fellows who are not members of the Network . Our results focus on questions concerning folate . Results We analyzed 488 surveys ( a 47.4 % response rate ) . Approximately two thirds of respondents screen their pregnant patients for folate  intake . Fewer ( 53 % ) screen their nonpregnant patients of childbearing age . Those who screened their patients for folate intake were more likely to counsel pregnant patients about diet . They also were more likely to believe that nutritional counseling would improve pregnancy outcomes ( 70.0 % versus 56.5 % ) and overall patient health ( 77.5 % versus 66.5 % ) . Most Fellows were aware that macrocytic anemia was a manifestation of folate deficiency ( 90.4 % ) and that folic acid supplementation during preconception and the early prenatal period helps protect against neural tube defects ( 96.5 % ) . They were aware that alcoholics ( 91.4 % ) , smokers ( 61.3 % ) , and lactating women ( 53.5 % ) are at increased risk of folate deficiency . They were less aware of other consequences of low folate intake , such as increased serum homocysteine ( 20.3 % ) . Respondents who screen their pregnant patients for folate intake correctly answered more of the knowledge questions about folate than physicians who do not screen . Conclusion Obstetrician-gynecologists are generally aware of the link between folate intake and neural tube defects , but are less aware of other aspects of folate metabolism
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 .