Folic acid media campaign successful

Folic acid media campaign successful

VIEWS & REVIEWS

A mass media campaign in 1995 to increase awareness and use of folic acid in women in The Netherlands was successful in that by 1996 '76.9% had heard aboutfolic acid before pregnancy', report researchers from that country.

The impact of the campaign was assessed by comparing cross-sectional studies of pregnant women conducted before and after the campaign. Women were divided into low, middle and high education levels as indicators of socioeconomic status.

Overall, folic acid use during some of the advised period increased after the campaign (from 25.1 to 53.5%), as did the proportion of those taking it for the entire advised period (from 4.8 to 21 %). Of women who were aware of folic acid and the advised period before becoming pregnant, 49.2% before the cam­paign, but only 25.8% after the campaign, did not take it.

Education level was a strong predictor of usage and awareness of folic acid. After the campaign the proportion of women aware of folic acid had increased by 36 and 31 % in women with a low and high education level respectively, while folic acid use increased by 29 and 31 % in the respective groups.

Researchers noted that the campaign result was 'satisfactory' in that 'greater than 70% of women planning a pregnancy should know about the advice'. They add that 'low educated women have profited from the campaign, but that socioeconomic differences remained' . de Walle HEK. van dc:t Pal KM, de Jong·van den Berg LlW, Jeeninga W, Schouten JSAG, et aI. Effect of mass media campaign 10 reduce socioeconomic diff=nces in women'l awareness and behaviour concerning use of folk: acid: cross sectional study. British Medical Journa1319: 291-292, 31 Ju11999 ' •• '''l6Z

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Inpharma-7 Aug 1m No. 1199