Researchers in Hungary studied 124 pregnant women to understand how well they understand health information and whether that affects their vitamin intake. They found that about half of pregnant women struggle to understand basic health information, and many don’t take folic acid supplements even though these are really important during pregnancy. The study shows that pregnant women aren’t getting enough folate and other important nutrients from their food alone. When women received better information about why these vitamins matter, more of them started taking supplements during pregnancy. This research suggests that doctors and healthcare providers need to do a better job explaining nutrition to pregnant women.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether pregnant women understand health information and how that connects to whether they take folic acid supplements and eat foods with important nutrients
  • Who participated: 124 pregnant women in Hungary who answered questions about their understanding of health information and what they eat
  • Key finding: About half of pregnant women (50.8%) had trouble understanding basic health information, and many weren’t taking folic acid supplements before pregnancy (58.87%), though more started taking them once they became pregnant (dropping to 31.45%)
  • What it means for you: If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, make sure you understand why folic acid is important and ask your doctor if you have questions. Better education from healthcare providers could help more women take these important supplements.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a group of pregnant women at one point in time and collected information about them all at once. The researchers used two different questionnaires (written question sets) to measure how well the pregnant women understood health information. They also used a food frequency questionnaire, which asks people what they typically eat, to figure out how much of certain nutrients the women were getting from their diet. The researchers then looked for connections between how well women understood health information and whether they were taking folic acid supplements or eating foods rich in important nutrients.

Understanding how well pregnant women comprehend health information is crucial because pregnancy is a time when good nutrition really matters for both the mother and the developing baby. If women don’t understand why certain vitamins and nutrients are important, they’re less likely to take supplements or eat the right foods. This study helps identify a gap in communication between healthcare providers and pregnant women.

This study has some strengths: it used validated questionnaires (tools that have been tested and proven to work), and it looked at real-world data from pregnant women. However, it’s a snapshot study rather than following women over time, so we can’t say for certain that better health understanding causes women to take more supplements. The study was done in Hungary, so results might be different in other countries. The sample size of 124 women is moderate, which means the findings are useful but not as powerful as a larger study would be.

What the Results Show

The study found that health literacy among pregnant women was problematic. Using one test (the Newest Vital Sign Test), 50.8% of pregnant women showed poor understanding of health information. Using another test (the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool), 46.7% showed poor understanding. This means roughly half of the pregnant women studied had difficulty understanding basic health information. The study also found that before pregnancy, 58.87% of women weren’t taking folic acid supplements at all. However, once they became pregnant, this number improved significantly—only 31.45% weren’t taking supplements during pregnancy. This suggests that pregnancy itself motivated women to take supplements, possibly because they received more health information from their doctors.

The researchers measured how much of certain important nutrients the pregnant women were getting from food. On average, pregnant women were getting 264.7 micrograms of folate per day from food, 2,303 milligrams of methionine, 248.1 milligrams of choline, and 127.1 milligrams of betaine. These are nutrients that help the baby’s development. The study suggests that many women weren’t reaching recommended levels of these nutrients from food alone, which is why supplements are so important.

This research adds to existing knowledge showing that health literacy is a real problem in many populations, not just pregnant women. Previous studies have shown that people with lower health literacy are less likely to follow medical recommendations. This study specifically shows that this problem affects pregnant women and their nutrition choices, which is particularly concerning because pregnancy is such a critical time for health.

This study only looked at pregnant women at one point in time, so we can’t say whether better health understanding actually causes women to take more supplements or if something else is responsible. The study was done only in Hungary, so the results might be different in other countries with different healthcare systems or populations. The researchers didn’t measure whether the babies born to these women were healthier or had better outcomes, so we can’t directly connect the findings to baby health. Additionally, the study relied on women reporting what they eat, which can be inaccurate.

The Bottom Line

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid as recommended by your doctor (typically 400-800 micrograms daily). Eat foods rich in folate like leafy greens, beans, and fortified grains. If you don’t understand why these nutrients matter or have questions about supplements, ask your healthcare provider to explain it clearly. This recommendation has strong support from this and other research. (Confidence level: High)

All pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant should pay attention to this research. Healthcare providers should also care about this, as it suggests they need to communicate better about nutrition. Women with lower education levels or those who struggle to understand health information should especially make sure they have clear explanations from their doctors.

Folic acid works throughout pregnancy to help prevent birth defects, so it’s important to start taking it before you become pregnant if possible. The benefits build up over time, so consistent use throughout pregnancy is what matters most. You won’t notice dramatic changes in how you feel, but the supplement is working to protect your baby’s development.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily folic acid supplement intake with a simple yes/no checklist. Also log 2-3 servings of folate-rich foods daily (spinach, broccoli, beans, fortified cereals) to monitor dietary sources.
  • Set a daily reminder to take your prenatal vitamin at the same time each day (like with breakfast). Use the app to log one folate-rich food with each meal to build the habit of eating nutrient-dense foods.
  • Review your supplement adherence weekly and aim for 100% compliance. Track dietary folate sources monthly to ensure you’re getting nutrients from multiple sources, not just supplements. Share your tracking data with your healthcare provider at prenatal visits.

This research is informational and should not replace personalized medical advice from your healthcare provider. All pregnant women should consult with their obstetrician or midwife about appropriate folic acid supplementation and nutrition during pregnancy. The findings from this study are based on a specific population in Hungary and may not apply to all pregnant women. Individual nutritional needs vary based on health status, diet, and other factors. Always follow your doctor’s specific recommendations for prenatal care and supplementation.