Open AccessA randomized community intervention trial to increase awareness and knowledge of the role of periconceptional folate in women of child‐bearing age
Author(s) -
Watson Maxwell J.,
Watson Lyndsey F.,
Bell Robin J.,
Halliday Jane L.,
Burford Necia,
Brennecke Shaun P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
health expectations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.314
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1369-7625
pISSN - 1369-6513
DOI - 10.1046/j.1369-6513.1999.00064.x
Subject(s) - child bearing , intervention (counseling) , spina bifida , medicine , randomized controlled trial , government (linguistics) , family medicine , promotion (chess) , population , environmental health , gerontology , pediatrics , nursing , surgery , politics , linguistics , philosophy , political science , law
Objectives To determine the effect of a consumer‐directed information campaign to increase knowledge of folate for the prevention of neural tube defects among women of child‐bearing age, and to measure women’s recall of sources of information and knowledge about folate. Design A community randomized trial. Setting Three matched pairs of geographically distinct Local Government Areas in the state of Victoria, Australia. Intervention Printed information recommending folate intake to decrease the risk of neural tube defects was disseminated to women of child‐bearing age in three of the Local Government Areas selected randomly. Main outcome measure The proportion of women aware of the association between folate and spina bifida. Results Of 1197 women interviewed prior to the intervention, 12.4% (adjusted for the cluster and population sampling unit) were aware of folate and neural tube defects. After the intervention, there was not only a significant background increase of 3.4% ( P =0.02) in folate awareness since the pre‐intervention survey ( n =603), but also a significant additional increase of 4.0% ( P =0.04) owing to the intervention itself ( n =603). Only 70% of women who were aware of folate knew the correct timing. Conclusions The provision of printed educational material can increase folate awareness among women of child‐bearing age. A comprehensive, long‐term and ongoing health promotion campaign including such material, together with initiatives by relevant health service providers and the food industry, could best address the current low levels of folate awareness among women of child‐bearing age.