Factors associated with folic acid deficiency in pregnant women and its repercussions in the newborn: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Objective: to estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with folic acid deficiency among pregnant women receiving care at a maternal-child referral hospital in northeastern Brazil and its repercussions on the newborn.

Method: cross-sectional study based on a secondary analysis of the cohort "Nutrition and infection: the problem revisited in light of the microcephaly outbreak," comprising 1,052 pregnant women followed between 2017 and 2019 at a maternal-child referral hospital in northeastern Brazil. Pregnant women with available serum folic acid measurements were included. An ad hoc database was constructed containing sociodemographic, obstetric, nutritional, lifestyle, and neonatal outcome variables. Prevalence estimates were presented with 95% confidence intervals, and associated factors were analyzed using multiple Poisson regression. The final model used the Wald test (p<0.05).

Results: the prevalence of folic acid deficiency (≤5.38 ng/mL) was 8.4%. Among these women, 38.6% reported using supplementation. In the multivariable analysis, marital status (p=0.026), second trimester of pregnancy (p=0.020), and absence of supplementation (p<0.001) remained associated with deficiency.

Conclusion: folic acid deficiency was associated with lack of supplementation, absence of a partner, and assessment during the second trimester. No neonatal repercussions were observed. The findings reinforce the importance of timely prenatal care and adequate supplementation.