Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
03:19
Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Preconceptional folic acid supplement use in Lebanon
1School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, York University, Bethune College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3. htamin@yorku.ca
Public Health Nutrition
|July 12, 2008
Summary
Preconceptional folic acid supplement use is low in Lebanon at 14.0%. Higher socioeconomic status and a history of miscarriage were linked to higher use, indicating a need for national awareness campaigns.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Preconceptional folic acid supplementation is crucial for preventing neural tube defects.
- Understanding usage patterns and determinants is vital for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of preconceptional folic acid supplement use among pregnant women in Lebanon.
- To identify factors associated with its use.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive epidemiological study involving 5280 deliveries from September 2003 to January 2005.
- Data collected via obstetric charts and direct interviews.
- Logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of folic acid use.
Main Results:
- Overall preconceptional folic acid use was 14.0% (18.6% urban vs. 2.7% rural).
- Higher socioeconomic status, lower parity, and a history of spontaneous abortion were significant predictors of use.
Conclusions:
- Lebanon exhibits a low rate of preconceptional folic acid supplement use.
- National awareness campaigns are recommended to improve uptake.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
01:21Antiprotozoal Agents
Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...