University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tamale, Ghana.
University for Development Studies, School of Allied Health Sciences, Tamale, Ghana.
Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2020 Mar;126(3):254-262. doi: 10.1111/bcpt.13331. Epub 2019 Nov 15.
Folate is a vitamin B-related substance needed by expectant mothers during the period right before and after conception (peri-conceptional period) to help protect foetuses against neural tube defects (NTDs). Despite efforts to promote the peri-conceptional uptake of folic acid (FA), adherence remains low. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of peri-conceptional FA uptake among childbearing women in northern Ghana. In a cross-sectional study, data from 303 women accessing antenatal care services in the Upper East Region of Ghana between February and July 2017 were collected and analysed in Stata (Version 12.1). Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent determinants of peri-conceptional uptake of FA. The mean age of the study population was 27.4 (±5.73) years. The prevalence of uptake of peri-conceptional FA was 28.7% (95% confidence interval: 26.7%-34.2%); 66% of the women were aware of FA and 52% had acceptable knowledge about FA. Initiating ANC after 3 months of pregnancy was associated with 91% less chance of peri-conceptional FA use [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.22; P < .001]. Not knowing the frequency of dosing of FA was associated with a 58% less likelihood of uptake of peri-conceptional FA (AOR 0.42; 95% CI 0.23-0.76; P = .004). There is low uptake of peri-conceptional FA among women of childbearing age accessing antenatal services in Northern Ghana, and this uptake is determined by the time of initiation of ANC visit and knowledge of dosage regimen of FA.
叶酸是一种维生素 B 相关物质，孕妇在受孕前后（围孕期）需要这种物质来帮助保护胎儿免受神经管缺陷（NTD）的影响。尽管努力促进围孕期叶酸（FA）的摄入，但依从性仍然很低。本研究旨在评估加纳北部育龄妇女围孕期 FA 摄入的流行率和决定因素。在一项横断面研究中，收集了 2017 年 2 月至 7 月期间在加纳上东部地区接受产前保健服务的 303 名妇女的数据，并在 Stata（版本 12.1）中进行了分析。卡方检验和逻辑回归分析用于确定围孕期 FA 摄入的独立决定因素。研究人群的平均年龄为 27.4（±5.73）岁。围孕期 FA 摄入的流行率为 28.7%（95%置信区间：26.7%-34.2%）；66%的妇女知道 FA，52%对 FA 有可接受的认识。怀孕 3 个月后开始 ANC 与围孕期 FA 使用的几率降低 91%相关[调整后的优势比（AOR）0.09；95%置信区间（CI）0.04-0.22；P<.001]。不知道 FA 的剂量频率与围孕期 FA 摄入的可能性降低 58%相关（AOR 0.42；95%CI 0.23-0.76；P=0.004）。加纳北部接受产前服务的育龄妇女中，围孕期 FA 的摄入率较低，这取决于 ANC 就诊时间和 FA 剂量方案的知识。
