Periconceptional folic acid use among women giving birth at Queen Mary Maternity Hospital in Dunedin

BACKGROUND: The New Zealand Ministry of Health advises that all women planning a pregnancy take a folic acid supplement to reduce the risk of having a neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancy. There is little information available to determine if women are following this advice. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine periconceptional folic acid use among women in the postnatal ward of Queen Mary Maternity Hospital in Dunedin. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to women in the postnatal ward between 14 November and 22 December 2004. RESULTS: One hundred and six women were interviewed during the study period. Forty women (39%) used folic acid supplements before conception. Sixty-seven women (64%) planned their pregnancy. The proportion of women (P<0.001) who planned their pregnancy (53%) and used folic acid before conception was higher than those who did not (11%). The proportion of women 30 years of age (55%) who took folic acid supplements before conception was higher than women aged 17 to <25 years (10%). CONCLUSION: Despite a lack of a public health campaign in New Zealand, a high proportion of participants, especially those who planned their pregnancy, took folic acid during the periconceptional period. A comprehensive public health campaign is needed to increase folic acid use. Fortification may be required to reach those women who do not plan their pregnancies.