Effectiveness of a large-scale patient and provider education program to promote preconception health, folic acid awareness and multivitamin use

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

3062.0: Monday, November 05, 2007 - 8:45 AM

Abstract #151663

Elizabeth Jensen, VitaGrant, MArch of Dimes Florida Chapter, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A 13, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-245-4465, elizabeth_jensen@doh.state.fl.us, Melanie Simmons, PhD, Healthy Development, 813 East Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301, Lori Reeves, MPH, State Director of Program Services, Florida Chapter, March of Dimes, 341 N. Maitland Avenue, Suite 115, Maitland, FL 32751, and Betsy Wood, RN, MPH, Infant Maternal and Reproductive Health Unit, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-13, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

Background: Half of all pregnancies are unplanned. A variety of data sources suggest that the best time to intervene to support a health pregnancy is before a woman gets pregnant. Up to 70 percent of neural tube defects could be prevented with adequate folic acid intake in the pre- and periconception period. In January 2005, the March of Dimes Florida Chapter and the Florida Department of Health implemented a three-year initiative to advance pre/interconceptional health education and multivitamin use among women of childbearing age. The effort was supported by a 2 million dollar grant from the State Attorney General's office and over 500,000 bottles of vitamins were distributed. Over 250 organizations participated in the project.

Evaluation: This presentation discusses the successes and challenges of implementing a statewide folic acid education and vitamin distribution project monitored by ongoing tracking and evaluation. Partnerships were established with a variety of organizations, some with more success implementing the project than others. Specific process and outcome evaluation discussion will include:

•Description of the implementation process including vitamin distribution, education, tracking, training and use of resources

•Evaluation of types of sites participating and effectiveness of serving the target population

•Descriptive analysis of individual or focus group interviews with staff and/or clients

•Time–series evaluation of behavior change of women receiving education and vitamins by:

age, race and ethnicity

type of organizational environment

supplement history, knowledge of folic acid, birth defects history and experience with and barriers taking the vitamins

Learning Objectives:

1. Be aware of successful strategies to implement similar projects in their states
2. Identify strategies for implementing a statewide education and distribution campaign
3. Forecast impacts of the availability of free multivitamins on usage

Keywords: Health Education, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Issues in Sexual and Reproductive Health

The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA