Folic Acid Supplementation

Folic acid, or folate, is one of the 'B' vitamins. It is essential to the normal development of an unborn baby's spine, brain and skull, especially during the first four weeks of pregnancy. Folate also supports a pregnant woman’s expanding blood volume and the growth of maternal and fetal tissues. Eating according to Canada’s Food Guide and taking a daily multivitamin with 400 mcg (0.4mg) of folic acid will help prepare for a healthy pregnancy and can reduce the risk of a baby developing neural tube defects. However, according to the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey, 22% of women of childbearing age had a blood cell folate concentration below the level considered optimal to minimize the risk of neural tube defects.

It is recommended that folic acid supplements be taken at least three months before getting pregnant and throughout pregnancy. For more information on folic acid vitamins and pregnancy, please see the health unit's website on health before pregnancy.

Data on this page are from the Better Outcomes Registry and Network (BORN) unless otherwise indicated. Ontario data are not available for this indicator for comparison.

Overall

Among Simcoe Muskoka residents who gave birth in 2018,, almost two-in-five (38.7% (37.3%, 40.0%)) were taking a folic acid supplement prior to becoming pregnant. Nine-in-ten (89.9% (89.0%, 90.7%)) individuals took a folic acid supplement during pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy folic acid supplementation has significantly increased in Simcoe Muskoka from 31.8% (30.4%, 33.2%) in 2013 to 38.7% (37.3%, 40.0%) in 2018. Similarly, supplementation during pregnancy has also significantly increased from 83.8% (82.7%, 84.9%) in 2013 to 89.9% (89.0%, 90.7%) in 2018.

By Maternal Age

Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is similar across all age groups at approximately 90%, however the age groups differ with respect to when supplementation began.

Folic acid supplementation before pregnancy is higher in the older maternal age groups at 39.4% (37.8%, 41.1%) for 25-34 year olds and 42.3% (39.2%, 45.4%) for 35-49 year olds compared to 16.5% (13.5%, 19.8%) for 15-24 year olds. Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is higher among the youngest age group (15-24 years) at 72.0% (68.1%, 75.7%) compared to the middle age group (25-34 years) at 50.7% (49.1%, 52.4%) and the oldest age group (35-49 years) at 47.4% (44.2%, 50.5%).

By Parity

There is no difference in folic acid supplementation during pregnancy between individuals having their first baby and those who have had a baby previously.