Health Behaviors of Health Practitioners about Folic Acid in Mazandaran Province, Sari, Iran

Folic acid is known as a useful vitamin in prevention of metabolic disorders due to vitamin deficiency. By taking into account, the state program for the routine usage of folic acid was investigated. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the existing knowledge about folic acid among health practitioners in Mazandaran province and its importance in nutritional scheme. This descriptivesectional study was conducted on 400 health care workers. Samples were calculated on the basis of variance of awareness of maternal about iron tablets in housewives With confidence intervals (CI) 95% and 90% of test power. Samples were selected systematic randomly and the level of awareness was defined with the researcher questionnaire as face to face interviews by questioner. Validity of questionnaire was confirmed with 10 experts and Cronbach s alpha was calculated , 94% for confirming of reliability for 5% of samples. Data were analyzed with spss software and p<0.05 was considered as significant level. About 34.7% of staff had good knowledge and been well aware of the importance of folic acid. Also the awareness of health practitioner about folic acid and other aspects of it were moderate. Because of the main role of health practitioner in transferring information about nutrition during pregnancy, reeducation classes are suggested for more efficiency with the state program.