Preconceptional intake of folic acid supplementation and its associated factors: a cross sectional study on the Lebanese females of reproductive age

Objective: Infertility is recognized as a public health issue worldwide where the total fertility rate is decreasing in most countries. Hence, this study assesses the use of folic acid supplementation prior to pregnancy in the Lebanese population. Method: It was a cross-sectional study that took place between December 2019 and February 2020 using a representative sample of community patients. Of 1000 participants who were approached, 980 were completed and collected back. The sample was drawn from the districts of all Lebanese governorates (Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and Bekaa). Results: Conclusion: The findings of this study about the assessment of the use of folic acid prior to pregnancy may be the first step towards the development of efficient health promotion programs oriented for the adequate utilization of folic acid use among Lebanese population