postpartum women in the honduran health system: folic acid knowledge, attitudes, and practices conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas relacionados con el ácido fólico en mujeres recién paridas en honduras

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ID: 175660
2007
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study had two purposes: first, to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to folic acid and birth defects among a convenience sample of postpartum Honduran women; and second, to identify food consumption patterns in this population and determine high-consumption staples for potential folic acid fortification. METHODS: Convenience sampling methodology was used to recruit potential study participants. Participants for this study were 2 619 postpartum Honduran women who had had a normal, in-hospital delivery in one of 16 public hospitals located throughout the country or the two social security hospitals that provide services to the Honduran working class population. Over a 10-month period, in-depth, face-to-face oral interviews, supervised by the research coordinator and staff, were conducted in-hospital prior to discharge. RESULTS: The majority of the women were between 16 and 29 years of age. Approximately half of the respondents (46.4%) had heard of folic acid and over one-third (37.6%) knew that it was a vitamin related to preventing birth defects. Birth defects were most often attributed to drug and alcohol use (20.6%) and lack of vitamin intake (18.1%), but 23.0% related defects to mystical, mythical, or religious causes. Aside from red beans, oranges, and natural fruit juices, folate-rich foods are not widely consumed by this population. The highest consumption frequency of staple foods with the potential to be fortified with folic acid were rice, white flour, corn flour, and pasta. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study provide potential avenues for food fortification, as well as underscore the need for further education about the role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects. Results highlight that standardized health education for Honduran women of reproductive age is needed if folic acid consumption through fortification and supplementation is to be successful and sustainable.
OBJETIVOS: Este estudio tuvo dos propósitos: primero, determinar los conocimientos, las actitudes y las prácticas relacionados con el ácido fólico y las malformaciones congénitas en una muestra de conveniencia de mujeres hondureñas recién paridas; y segundo, identificar los patrones de consumo de alimentos en esta población y determinar los productos básicos de alto consumo para su posible fortificación con ácido fólico. MÉTODOS: Se seleccionaron las posibles participantes mediante un muestreo de conveniencia. Participaron 2 619 mujeres hondureñas que habían tenido un parto normal en alguno de los 16 hospitales públicos del país o de dos hospitales de la seguridad social que prestan servicios a la clase trabajadora hondureña. En un período de 10 meses se realizaron entrevistas personales directas, orales y exhaustivas en los propios hospitales antes del alta médica. El coordinador y el equipo de investigación supervisaron las entrevistas. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de las mujeres tenían entre 16 y 29 años de edad. Aproximadamente la mitad de las encuestadas (46,4%) habían oído sobre el ácido fólico y más de la tercera parte (37,6%) sabía que era una vitamina relacionada con la prevención de malformaciones congénitas. Las mujeres encuestadas atribuyeron estas malformaciones principalmente al consumo de drogas y alcohol (20,6%) y a la insuficiente ingesta de vitaminas (18,1%); no obstante, 23,0% relacionó las malformaciones con causas místicas, míticas o religiosas. En esta población no se consumen muchos alimentos ricos en folatos, excepto frijoles colorados, naranjas y jugos de frutas naturales. Los alimentos básicos más frecuentes que podrían fortificarse con ácido fólico fueron el arroz, las pastas y las harinas de trigo y de maíz. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados de este estudio abren una posible vía para la fortificación de alimentos y, además, subrayan la necesidad de una mayor educación sobre la importancia del ácido fólico en la prevención de malformaciones del tubo neural en los fetos. Los resultados destacan la necesidad de ofrecer una educación sanitaria estandarizada a las mujeres hondureñas en edad reproductiva si se implementa de manera exitosa y sostenible el consumo de ácido fólico mediante la fortificación y suplementación de alimentos.
Reference Key
milla2007revistapostpartum Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors ;Gayle R. Milla;Alina L. Flores;Edgardo Umaña;Mayes Ileana;Jorge Rosenthal
Journal communications on pure and applied analysis
Year 2007
DOI
DOI not found
URL
http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1020-49892007001000007
Keywords
folic acid neural tube defects honduras tropical medicinepublic aspects of medicine

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