241529 Associations between Folic Acid Knowledge and Acculturation: Findings from the Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) Survey

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Luwam Semere, MD , Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, Department of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Jessica Chow, MPH , Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Fathima Wakeel, PhD, MPH , UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, Los Angeles, CA
Shin Margaret Chao, PhD, MPH , Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
Erin Saleeby, MD, MPH , Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, Department of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Hsin-Chieh Chang, MSPH , Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Nirvi Shah, MPH , Maternal Child & Adolescent Health, Los Angeles County, Palos Verdes Pensinsula, CA
Kandyce Larsen, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, University of California David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Michael C. Lu, MD, MPH , Department of Community Health Sciences and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Los Angeles School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between acculturation factors and folic acid use and knowledge during pregnancy. METHODS: We used data from the 2007 LAMB survey, a population-based, mail sample survey with telephone follow-up for non-respondents based on a multistage clustered design. Analyses were based on weighted responses of 6264 women with live births. Folic acid intake was measured by self-report of taking a vitamin pill with folic acid a month prior to conception. Knowledge of folic acid was assessed by the respondent's correct identification of a statement that folic acid “prevents birth defects”. Associations between maternal nativity, language spoken at home, folic acid intake and knowledge were examined using Pearson's chi square tests. RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of women were aware that folic acid prevents birth defects and 54% did not take folic acid in the month prior to pregnancy. There was no significant difference in folic acid knowledge based on maternal nativity. Foreign-born women were less likely to take folic acid prior to pregnancy (OR 0.75, p<0.01) compared to U.S.-born women. Women who spoke English at home were more likely to identify the benefits of folic acid use (OR 1.16, p<0.03) and to take a multivitamin pre-pregnancy (OR 1.63, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the respondents did not know the indication for folic acid use in pregnancy. Significant differences in folic acid use and knowledge existed based on acculturation factors.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the importance of folic acid use in pregnancy Discuss immigrant characteristics that effect folic acid use and knowledge in pregnancy

Keywords: Birth Defects, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working with the LAMB dataset, conducted the analysis, and written the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

See more of: Improving pregnancy outcomes: Promoting healthy minds, bodies, and communities
See more of: Maternal and Child Health