| Learning Objective #1: Describe an effective intervention for increasing folic acid intake among young women of child bearing age | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Articulate the importance of educating young women who are not contemplating pregnancy about the prevention of neural tube defects |
Design: Descriptive study.
Population, Sample, Setting, Years: The target population was women attending college at one of 50 campuses in North Carolina from 2001-2004. The sample consisted of 5,670 women (mean age: 19.4 ± 2.6 yrs.) participating in folic-acid educational sessions.
Methods: A pre-test to determine baseline folic acid knowledge, folic acid use, and factors influencing folic acid intake (22 item questionnaire, reliability =.89) was administered to 5,670 participants. Two health educators and 40 students trained as folic acid peer educators provided educational sessions to participants in small groups. A 100-day supply of a multivitamin was provided to participants after completion of an educational session, and a post-test to determine folic acid use (self-report, verified by vitamin count) folic acid knowledge, and factors influencing folic acid intake (24 item questionnaire, reliability = .87) were administered to 40% of the participants at 1 month and 1 year after session participation.
Results: At enrollment, 55% had heard of folic acid, 45% knew NTDs could be prevented with multivitamins, and 32% knew preconceptional vitamin use was necessary. Only 30% reported taking daily folic acid supplementation prior to participation in the educational session. Post-test scores demonstrated a statistically significant increase in women's knowledge about folic acid; 82% reported daily folic acid consumption (verified by vitamin count) at 1-month follow-up. At 1-year follow-up, 62% reported daily folic acid consumption, and knowledge scores remained improved.
Conclusions: Focused folic acid peer education improves knowledge, and providing multivitamins increases use among young women. The combined strategy of education and multivitamin distribution may facilitate a continuation of daily adherence to multivitamins.