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
Abstract Background Folic acid fortification of staple foods has been in place in many countries for over two decades. Studies have shown that folic acid fortification can significantly reduce incidence of neural tube defects. Tanzania adopted a mandatory fortification policy for commercially-produc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2019-11-01
|
| Series: | BMC Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-019-0324-5 |
| _version_ | 1818160304983375872 |
|---|---|
| author | Ipyana Frank Mwandelile Rose Mpembeni Ahmed Abade Susan F. Rumisha Julius J. Massaga Rogath Kishimba |
| author_facet | Ipyana Frank Mwandelile Rose Mpembeni Ahmed Abade Susan F. Rumisha Julius J. Massaga Rogath Kishimba |
| author_sort | Ipyana Frank Mwandelile |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Folic acid fortification of staple foods has been in place in many countries for over two decades. Studies have shown that folic acid fortification can significantly reduce incidence of neural tube defects. Tanzania adopted a mandatory fortification policy for commercially-produced wheat and maize flour in 2011. We determined factors influencing intake of folic acid-fortified flour among women of reproductive age (WRA). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among WRA during March–April 2017 in Ifakara Town Council, Morogoro region. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select study participants. We used a questionnaire to capture information on demographics, awareness of folic acid, awareness of existence of folic acid fortified flour in community and intake of folic acid fortified flour. Intake was defined as reported consumption of folic acid fortified flour products at least once within 7 days before interview. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic analyses were done to evaluate factors associated with intake of folic acid fortified flour. Results The median age of the 698 participating WRA was 30 years (range: 18–49). Awareness of folic acid and folic acid fortified flour was 6.9% (95% CI: 5.2–9.0%) and 7.5% (95% CI: 5.7–9.6%), respectively. Consumption of folic acid fortified flour was 63.3% (95% CI: 59.7–66.8%). Independent factors associated with intake included being employed (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.19–3.06), having no children (nulliparity) (aOR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.36–4.95) or having 1–4 children (aOR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.17–3.33) (vs. 5 or more children), and folic acid awareness (aOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.30–4.92). Conclusion Folic acid fortified flour was used by most respondents in our study despite low awareness of existence of folic acid fortified flour in the community. Being employed, having fewer than five children, and folic acid awareness were independent factors associated with intake. We recommend scaling up of mandatory flour fortification program and doing further studies on blood folate level among women of reproductive age in Ifakara to assess fortification program effectiveness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:59:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-03cdc4425e654bcab12ea65132f007df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-0928 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:59:45Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-03cdc4425e654bcab12ea65132f007df2022-12-22T00:59:20ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282019-11-01511710.1186/s40795-019-0324-5Awareness and factors associated with reported intake of folic acid-fortified flour among women of reproductive age in Ifakara, Morogoro region, Tanzania: a cross-sectional studyIpyana Frank Mwandelile0Rose Mpembeni1Ahmed Abade2Susan F. Rumisha3Julius J. Massaga4Rogath Kishimba5Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FELTP)National Institute for Medical ResearchNational Institute for Medical ResearchField Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (FELTP)Abstract Background Folic acid fortification of staple foods has been in place in many countries for over two decades. Studies have shown that folic acid fortification can significantly reduce incidence of neural tube defects. Tanzania adopted a mandatory fortification policy for commercially-produced wheat and maize flour in 2011. We determined factors influencing intake of folic acid-fortified flour among women of reproductive age (WRA). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among WRA during March–April 2017 in Ifakara Town Council, Morogoro region. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select study participants. We used a questionnaire to capture information on demographics, awareness of folic acid, awareness of existence of folic acid fortified flour in community and intake of folic acid fortified flour. Intake was defined as reported consumption of folic acid fortified flour products at least once within 7 days before interview. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic analyses were done to evaluate factors associated with intake of folic acid fortified flour. Results The median age of the 698 participating WRA was 30 years (range: 18–49). Awareness of folic acid and folic acid fortified flour was 6.9% (95% CI: 5.2–9.0%) and 7.5% (95% CI: 5.7–9.6%), respectively. Consumption of folic acid fortified flour was 63.3% (95% CI: 59.7–66.8%). Independent factors associated with intake included being employed (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.19–3.06), having no children (nulliparity) (aOR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.36–4.95) or having 1–4 children (aOR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.17–3.33) (vs. 5 or more children), and folic acid awareness (aOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.30–4.92). Conclusion Folic acid fortified flour was used by most respondents in our study despite low awareness of existence of folic acid fortified flour in the community. Being employed, having fewer than five children, and folic acid awareness were independent factors associated with intake. We recommend scaling up of mandatory flour fortification program and doing further studies on blood folate level among women of reproductive age in Ifakara to assess fortification program effectiveness.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-019-0324-5IntakeFolic acidFortificationFlourWomen of reproductive ageIfakara |
| spellingShingle | Ipyana Frank Mwandelile Rose Mpembeni Ahmed Abade Susan F. Rumisha Julius J. Massaga Rogath Kishimba 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 Intake Folic acid Fortification Flour Women of reproductive age Ifakara |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| topic | Intake Folic acid Fortification Flour Women of reproductive age Ifakara |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40795-019-0324-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ipyanafrankmwandelile awarenessandfactorsassociatedwithreportedintakeoffolicacidfortifiedflouramongwomenofreproductiveageinifakaramorogororegiontanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy AT rosempembeni awarenessandfactorsassociatedwithreportedintakeoffolicacidfortifiedflouramongwomenofreproductiveageinifakaramorogororegiontanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy AT ahmedabade awarenessandfactorsassociatedwithreportedintakeoffolicacidfortifiedflouramongwomenofreproductiveageinifakaramorogororegiontanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy AT susanfrumisha awarenessandfactorsassociatedwithreportedintakeoffolicacidfortifiedflouramongwomenofreproductiveageinifakaramorogororegiontanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy AT juliusjmassaga awarenessandfactorsassociatedwithreportedintakeoffolicacidfortifiedflouramongwomenofreproductiveageinifakaramorogororegiontanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy AT rogathkishimba awarenessandfactorsassociatedwithreportedintakeoffolicacidfortifiedflouramongwomenofreproductiveageinifakaramorogororegiontanzaniaacrosssectionalstudy |