A recent study from the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) highlights a concerning trend in folic acid intake among pregnant women in the region. Despite ongoing public health initiatives emphasizing the importance of folic acid before and during early pregnancy, many women remain inadequately supplemented.
Led by Clinical Midwifery Consultant Amy Tang and supported by Consultant Sarah Melov, the study analyzed data from over 48,000 pregnant women attending antenatal appointments over four years. The findings revealed that migrant women were more likely to take folic acid, while a significant portion of Australian-born women were not.
“Our migrant population is doing quite well in terms of folic acid intake,” Melov noted. “It’s the Australian-born women, particularly those planning subsequent pregnancies, who are most at risk of not taking enough.”
Folic acid is essential for fetal development, helping to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida and reducing other pregnancy complications. Alarmingly, the study found that nearly 40% of women did not report taking folic acid during the critical early pregnancy period.
The researchers emphasize the need for targeted public health messaging to inform women about the importance of folic acid and address potential barriers to access. They noted that branding might play a role, as many women tend to choose well-known, often pricier, multivitamin supplements over specific folic acid options. “Women are often taking expensive multivitamin supplements,” Tang added, underscoring a potential avenue for improving folic acid intake.
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