Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114615

Paula M. Castaņo, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, 622 West 168th St., PH16-80, New York, NY 10034, 212-305-4938, pc2137@columbia.edu, Deborah Horowitz, BA, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, PH 16-80, New York, NY 10032, and Carolyn L. Westhoff, MD, MSc, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and School of Public Health, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, PH 16-80, New York, NY 10032.

The United States recommends folic acid fortification and supplementation to reduce the incidence of fetal neural tube defects. Studies show that only 40% of women take folic acid; non-white, young, less educated women take even less. Adequate folate intake is four times more likely in women with intended pregnancies. However, 50% of pregnancies nationwide and 82% in New York City are unintended. Because 50% of women with unintended pregnancies used birth control in the month they conceived, the Food and Drug Administration has discussed combining folic acid with oral contraceptives.

We asked 500 urban women aged 15 to 48 about their contraceptive use and nutritional history; 83.4% of them self-identified as Latina. Of the Latina women, 65% met the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 400 dietary folate equivalents; ten percent did so through vitamins alone. Spanish-speaking Latinas were significantly less likely to meet the RDA than their bilingual counterparts (p=0.003). Rice and fresh orange juice were the foods that contributed most to overall folate intake. Ten percent of Latinas reported using an oral contraceptive in the 30 days prior to their last menstrual period. Of these pill users, 32% did not meet RDA based on diet/supplements alone. None of these findings differed significantly from women not self-identifying as Latina.

These findings suggest that we have much work to do to meet the 2010 national health objective of 80% of women consuming adequate folic acid daily. Novel ideas to accomplish this goal could include tailored dietary counseling and oral contraceptive fortification.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the presentation, the participant will be able to (
• discuss the importance of folic acid supplementation for reproductive-aged women in the United States; (
• list the folate-containing foods that contribute the most folate to the diet of urban Latina women; and (
• identify better ways to serve urban Latina women at risk for inadequate folate intake.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Urban Women's Health Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.