CONSUMPTION OF FOLIC ACID IN PRECONCEPTION AND DURING PREGNANCY AND ITS ASSOCIATIONWITH PRETERM BIRTH AMONG NEPALESE WOMEN: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

This case-control study was aimed to determine the influence on consumption of folic acid supplement and dietary folate in preconception and during pregnancy on preterm birth among Nepalese postnatal women. A convenience sampling technique was conducted to recruit 84 postnatal mothers who delivered preterm and full-term babies from March to May 2018. Participants were asked to complete 5 self-reported questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, consumption of folic acid supplement in preconception and during pregnancy and consumption of dietary folate in preconception and during pregnancy. Information about preterm births were obtained from medical records. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson chi-square and binary logistic regression were computed for data analysis. Results of logistic regression showed that women who had high consumption of dietary folate consumption in preconception (OR = .60, 95 % CI = .42-.88) and during pregnancy (OR = .53, 95 % CI = .32-.92) were less likely to have preterm birth compared to women having less consumption. In this study women who consume folic acid supplement during pregnancy were (OR = .20, 95 % CI = .06-.67) less likely to have preterm birth but consumption of folic acid supplement in preconception does not found as a predictor (OR = .00, 95 % CI = .00-∞) to preterm birth.

The findings of the study suggest having high consumption of dietary folate in in preconception and during pregnancy and regular consumption of folic acid during pregnancy.

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