Assessment of Knowledge Regarding Folic Acid Consumption Among Pregnant Women Visiting Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore

Abstract:Folic acid is also known as Vitamin-B9. It is a type of water soluble vitamin that helps overcome growth retardations and also prevents nutritional disorders at various stages of human reproductive cycles. Methods: A cross–sectional study was conducted at the Gynecology department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore in a period of 4 months. The sampling technique used wasnon-probability convenient sampling for a number of 100 participants. Results: 15 women were uneducated, 35 women had no knowledge about the benets of folic acid supplementation, 40 women were having no knowledge about its preventive role in birth defects, only 69 women knew about correct dosage and proper duration for folic acid intake while 24 women had no knowledge about dietary sources of folic acid. Conclusions: Majority women had insufcient awareness regarding folic acid deciency which resultedin inadequate knowledge and consumption of folic acid. Therefore, women should be provided with knowledge and awareness from health professionals regarding folic acid deciency. They should be aware of benets and importance of taking folic acid throughout pregnancy. Keywords: Folic acid, Pregnancy, Birth defects, Knowledge.