Evaluation of prepregnancy health service quality and efficacy by first trimester red blood cell folic acid and serum zinc levels

Objectives: We aimed at determining the risk of open NTD for pregnant and nonpregnant childbearing aged women who attended Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Cukurova University Medical School by measuring red blood cell folic acid and serum zinc levels. In the meantime we aimed at evaluating whether they know about the role of folic acid in pregnancy and efficacy of preregnancy health service.Materials and methods: Study group consists of 97 pregnant who are less than 12 weeks and control group consits of 98 women aged 15-45 years who attended Gynecology Department for any symptom. After recording age, country, occupation and obstetric history we asked pregnant group whether they use folic acid and know about folic acid. We asked nonpregnant group about the role of folic acid in pregnancy. Then we evaluate red blood cell folic acid and serum zinc levels of all patients.Results: There is a significant difference between red blood cell folic acid levels of two groups (p=0.003) and levels of pregnants who use and do not use folic acid (0.037). We established 90.8% of women do not know about the significance of folic acid in pregnancy. We saw that serum zinc levels are normal range and there is no significant difference between groups (p=0.113).Conclusion: A cosiderable proportion of women is at risk of having baby with NTD. This should be remedied by adding folic acid to nutrients.Key words: Neural tube defect, folic acid, red blood cell folic acid, zinc