Awareness of maternal folate intake and prenatal screening in reducing the incidence of Myelomeningocele
Urooj Fatima, Sabahat Gul, Irum Quddus, Syed Hussain Mehdi
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ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine
the awareness of mother regarding folate supplementation and prenatal scan to
reduce the incidence of Myelomeningocele.
Study
design: Cross
sectional.
Material
and Method: The
study consist of fifty cases of myelomeningocele. Cases were collected from
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (J.P.M.C.). The study was carried out in Dow
Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (D.D.R.L). Patients were examined for the
presence of cyst on the vertebral column. Diagnosis was further confirmed by
MRI scans. Mothers were inquired about the intake of folic acid before and
during pregnancy. They were also asked about the prenatal scans conducted to
rule out the anomaly.
Results:
Among
fifty mothers only two (4%) took folic acid during pregnancy. Six (12%) mothers
had prenatal ultrasound and they were aware of having the anomalous baby.
Conclusion: Myelomeningocele is a birth
defect for which various risk factors are identified. The outcome of the study
highlights the significance of perception of mothers about the prevalence of
the disease in adevelopingnation like Pakistanand its prevention with
supplementation of folic acidand early diagnosisthrough antenatalscreening.
Keywords: Myelomeningocele, anomaly, prenatal, cyst, diagnosis,
antenatal screening.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the awareness of mother regarding folate supplementation and prenatal scan to reduce the incidence of Myelomeningocele.
Study
design: Cross
sectional.
Material
and Method: The
study consist of fifty cases of myelomeningocele. Cases were collected from
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (J.P.M.C.). The study was carried out in Dow
Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (D.D.R.L). Patients were examined for the
presence of cyst on the vertebral column. Diagnosis was further confirmed by
MRI scans. Mothers were inquired about the intake of folic acid before and
during pregnancy. They were also asked about the prenatal scans conducted to
rule out the anomaly.
Results:
Among
fifty mothers only two (4%) took folic acid during pregnancy. Six (12%) mothers
had prenatal ultrasound and they were aware of having the anomalous baby.
Conclusion: Myelomeningocele is a birth
defect for which various risk factors are identified. The outcome of the study
highlights the significance of perception of mothers about the prevalence of
the disease in adevelopingnation like Pakistanand its prevention with
supplementation of folic acidand early diagnosisthrough antenatalscreening.
Keywords: Myelomeningocele, anomaly, prenatal, cyst, diagnosis,
antenatal screening.