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The Diabetes Educator

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Health Promotion Practice
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Folic Acid and the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: A Survey of Awareness Among Latina Women of Childbearing Age Residing in Southeast Michigan

Srimathi Kannan, MS, PhD

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, University of Michigan School of Public Health, in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Elaine Menotti, MPH

Holly K. Scherer, RD

MFit Health Promotion of the University of Michigan Health System, in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Jennifer Dickinson, MPH, RD

Kimberly Larson, MS, RD

University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Periconceptional intake of folic acid is known to reduce the risk for neural tube defects (NTDs). To inform southeast Michigan Latina women of childbearing age about the benefits of food and supplemental sources of the micronutrient in the prevention of NTDs, Spanish-English bilingual health educators carried out 20 education events in supermarkets and community organizations serving Latina women. One hundred and sixty Latina women ages 19 to 50 years indicated their current folic acid awareness and stated their future intentions regarding folic acid. Of 160 women surveyed, 114 (71%) had heard of folic acid, 84 (74%) knew that folic acid prevents birth defects, 63 (55%) knew the critical time to take folic acid, and 76 (67%) identified at least one source of folic acid. After participating in the education events, 136 women (85%) reported planning to eat more folate and/or folic acid–rich foods. Although general folic acid awareness is fairly high, health promotion efforts must be coordinated at community locations serving Latina women to share folic acid's specific protective effects in the prevention of NTDs, the critical timing of intake, and its food and supplement sources.

Key Words: folic acid • Latina/Hispanic women • neural tube defects • point-of-purchase nutrition • health promotion

This version was published on January 1, 2007

Health Promotion Practice, Vol. 8, No. 1, 60-68 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1524839905278934
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