ASSESSMENT OF MATERNAL KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS PRECONCEPTIONAL FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ATTENDING ANC CLINIC ST PAUL HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE FROM APRIL 1,2017- MAY 1,2017 G.C

Abstract

Summary Background Incidences of NTD has become Four times higher in developing countries which can be decreased by 80% with maternal folic acid supplement. Health authorities in many countries around the World recommend women of reproductive age to use folic acid supplements before and early in pregnancy to reduce the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect [1,3]. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of folic acid supplementation and among women visiting st paul Millennium Medical College ANC clinic. Method: - A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine knowledge, attitude, and practice of folic acid use. Data was collected using structured questionnaire. And the data analysis was made using SPSS version 22.0. The result of collected data was expressed and interpreted using appropriate tables and figures. Finally based on the results which was found appropriate conclusions and possible recommendation will be provided. Time line: study was conducted from April 1st-may1st 2017GC with estimated total budget of 2038 birr. Result: the mean age of the respondent were 21 year .37(9.8%) were illiterate and 341(90.2%) were literate. Only 10.9% of respondents has good knowledge about folic acid use and 15(3.9%) of them knows it should be taken 2month prconceptionaly.41 (85.4%) have positive attitude toward folic acid use during pregnancy. Only three in hundreds take folic acid pre conceptionally Conclusion and Recommendations : The knowledge, attitude and practices of folic acid use at pre pregnancy age is low in the study area. The government should focus on giving education thru health professional and mass Medias. Key words: knowledge, attitude, practice, preconception