Folate and vitamin B₁₂ status and predicted neural tube defects risk among nonpregnant women of reproductive age from the Malawi National Micronutrient Survey, 2015-2016.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maternal folate and vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can lead to serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. There are no nationally representative estimates on folate and vitamin B₁₂ status among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Malawi.

Objective

We assessed folate and vitamin B₁₂ status among nonpregnant WRA in Malawi and predicted the risk of folate-sensitive neural tube defects (NTDs) were they to become pregnant.

Methods

Using data from the cross-sectional, nationally representative 2015-2016 Malawi Micronutrient Survey, we calculated the proportion of folate and vitamin B₁₂ deficiency and insufficiency by demographic characteristics among 778 nonpregnant WRA (15-49 years). We predicted NTD prevalence using red blood cell (R

SUBMITTER: Qi YP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11253844 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature