FOLIC ACID INTAKE OF YOUNG WOMEN

Abstract
Objective: To investigate the folic acid intake of young women ages 18 through 24 years.Design: Nonexperimental, descriptive survey.Setting: Small private college in western North Carolina.Participants: A convenience sample of 42 female college students ages 18-24 years. Main Outcome Measures: Survey of demographics, folic acid intake, knowledge of folic acid, and pregnancy contemplation.Results: All participants were found to have an inadequate diet and an inadequate intake of folic acid. Only 33.3% reported taking daily multivitamins. These findings may be attributed to the participants' lack of knowledge about folic acid and the birth defects it helps to prevent.Conclusion: Inadequate folic acid intake is common in young women ages 18-24 years. These young women frequently have poor nutritional habits and are usually noncontemplators of pregnancy.

Key words
Folic Acid, pregnancy, young women, nutritional status

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