[Counseling about folate intake during pregnancy].

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Adequate folate intake is crucial in the periconceptional period and pregnancy to prevent maternal and fetal diseases, including neural tube defects (NTD).
• Italy recommends folate supplementation (0.4 or 4-5 mg/day) for pregnant or planning women.
• Recent studies indicate low awareness among women regarding the importance of periconceptional folate supplementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pregnant women's awareness and actual use of folate supplementation.
• To identify gaps in folate supplementation, particularly during the critical periconceptional period.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 650 pregnant women from January to October 2014.
• A questionnaire with closed and semi-closed questions was employed to gather data.

Main Results:

• The mean age of participants was 32.8 years.
• Approximately 70% of women recognized folate benefits during pregnancy, with 89.8% using it during gestation.
• Only 16.9% of women supplemented with folate during the periconceptional period, often at insufficient doses.

Conclusions:

• Promoting folate awareness and use requires targeted informational campaigns for healthcare providers (GPs, obstetricians/gynecologists).
• Preconceptional and prenatal counseling is essential to improve folate supplementation rates.
• Risk assessment can guide the selection of appropriate folate type and dosage for optimal outcomes.