ArticleThe Pan African medical journal2015
Prevention of spina bifida: folic acid intake during pregnancy in Gulu district, northern Uganda.
Article in The Pan African medical journal, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence and associated factors of congenital anomalies in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- Integrating Women and Girls' Nutrition Services into Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2022Pooled it
- Folic acid supplementation and neural tube defects: a cross-sectional study of knowledge and practice among pregnant mothers in Lira, Northern Uganda.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- How do women prepare for pregnancy in a low-income setting? Prevalence and associated factors.PloS one · 2022Article
- Awareness and factors associated with reported intake of folic acid-fortified flour among women of reproductive age in Ifakara, Morogoro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.BMC nutrition · 2019Article
- Engaging One Health for Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa: Perspective for Mycotoxins.Frontiers in public health · 2017Review
- A commentary to the manuscript awareness and uptake of measures for preventing CNS birth defects among mothers of affected children in a sub-Saharan African neurosurgeon's practice.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2015Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe intake of folic acid before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy can prevent spina bifida. This paper describes folic acid intake in women in Gulu district in northern Uganda.
methodsStructured interviews were held with 394 women attending antenatal care (ANC), 15 mothers of children with spina bifida, and 35 health workers in 2012 and 2013. SPSS16 was used for data analysis.
results1/4 mothers of children with spina bifida took folic acid during late pregnancy, none preconception. None had knowledge about folic acid and spina bifida prevention. 33.5% of women attending ANC had ever heard about spina bifida, 1% knew folic acid intake can prevent spina bifida. 42.4% took folic acid supplements in late pregnancy, 8.1% during the first trimester, none preconception. All women said to have eaten food rich in folic acid. None were aware about fortified foods. 7% of health workers understood the importance of early folic acid intake. All health workers recommended folic acid intake to women attending ANC. 20% of the health workers and 25% of the women said folic acid supplements are not always available.
conclusionFolic acid intake is limited in northern Uganda. This is attributed to limited education and understanding of women and health workers about the importance of early folic acid intake, late presentation of women at ANC, poor supply chain and dilapidated health services caused by war and poverty. A combination of food fortification, sensitization of health workers, women, and improving folic acid supply is recommended.
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