Folic acid supplementation in Italian women during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study conducted in general practice

Parental practices that influence children's development: how often are they implemented and by whom-results from the NASCITA birth cohort study

This study aims to assess how commonly 15 parental practices, known to have positive effects on child and adult health, are carried out by families in Italy, if they are related, and which characteristics are associated with implementation. Children participating in the NASCITA Cohort, a prospective study in which family pediatricians in Italy collect data on children and their families, were included if they had sufficient data. Data on practice implementation, socio-demographic characteristics, and interrelatedness between practices were analyzed. In all, 3337 children were included. Their mothers had an average age at birth of 33 years (range 17-52) and medium-high levels of education (86% of mothers) and employment (72%). No smoking or alcohol in pregnancy, supine infant sleeping position, and tummy time were the most commonly implemented practices (by over 85% of mothers, each), while the least common was exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months (28%). Parental practices are related and several socio-demographic characteristics influence their implementation, with mother's educational level and geographic area of residence influencing most of the practices (each influencing 12 of 15 practices). Low educational level (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.26-0.44), being born abroad (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.34-0.56), and residing in the South (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.41-0.58) most reduce the probability of implementing numerous supportive practices (all three P < 0.001).    Conclusion: Socio-demographic factors contribute significantly to carrying out supportive practices. Future interventions should address the identified inequalities, prioritizing families most in need. Direct involvement of pediatricians is warranted given their favorable position for promoting positive behaviors. What is Known: • Several parental actions in the early life of a child are known to have positive effects on later child health and development. • While folic acid supplementation and exclusive breastfeeding have been promoted for years, other supporting actions are less well-known. What is New: • Rates of parental adherence to the different supportive actions varied greatly and actions were often scantly adopted. • Socio-demographic characteristics influenced adherence, with young, unemployed mothers with low educational levels, living in the South, or who were born abroad adhering significantly less.

Effect of folic acid supplementation on mental health in the antenatal and postnatal period

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the mental health outcomes of folic acid (FA) supplement use in the antenatal and postnatal periods. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-prospective longitudinal study was conducted between 1 December 2019 and 30 January 2021 in a Family Health Center in eastern Turkey. The study was performed at one week in the postpartum period, at 6-8 weeks in the postpartum period, and at six months in the postpartum period. A total of 162 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. A Personal Information Form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to collect data. Results: While 32.7% (n=53) of the participants used FA supplementation from the pre-pregnancy period and in the first trimester of pregnancy (6 months in total), and 34.6% (n=56) used FA supplementation only in the first trimester of pregnancy. It was determined that 32.7% (n=53) of the participants did not use any FA supplement. Of those who did not use FA, 37.0% were in the antenatal period, and 50.8% were on the postnatal 6-8 days. It was determined that the participants experienced mild/moderate/severe anxiety in different weeks. BAI and EPDS scores were the lowest in the prenatal period, at 6-8 weeks in the postpartum period, and at 6 months in the postpartum period in those who used FA supplementation for 6 months. BAI and EPDS scores decreased significantly from the antenatal, to the postnatal 6-8-week, and to the postnatal 6-month measurements. Conclusion: The use of FA supplements can be effective in preventing symptoms of anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postnatal period.

What Do Polish Parents and Caregivers Think ofDietary Supplements for Children Aged 3-12?

Background: The aim of this study was to specify the amounts and the types of dietary supplements (DS) taken by children and define the attitudes of caregivers towards DS and towards administering them to children aged 3–12. An analysis of the reasons for using DSs, and of expected benefits and awareness of health risks associated with administering DSs, was conducted. Methods: The online questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic characteristics and use of dietary supplements. Multiple analyses were used to describe the relationship between demographic factors and dietary supplement intake. In particular cases, strength and correlation were also calculated. Results: In total, 54.89% of participants were administering dietary supplements to children at the time of completing the questionnaire—a weak linear relationship (Cramer’s V = 0.21) between child’s age and the child taking dietary supplements. Respondents for whom DSs are equivalents of medicines tend not to see that dietary supplements may cause side-effects and interact. Conclusions: Parents who administer dietary supplements to children show a tendency to have more trust in this type of product than the people who do not do so. It was also confirmed that the people who take dietary supplements transfer their behavioral patterns by also administering them to their children.