Barriers of antenatal folate-supplementation: The role of depression and trait-anxiety on periconceptional folate-intake

Abstract Objective. The aim of the research was to reveal the effect of antenatal depressive symptoms and trait-anxiety on folate supplementation. Higher levels of depression, and trait-anxiety were hypothesized to be associated with insufficient folate intake among pregnant women in early pregnancy. Methods. Level of depressive symptoms, trait-anxiety, self-esteem, social capital, self-related health, and demographic factors (age, number of siblings, marital, educational, employment, and socioeconomic-status) were established among 185 Hungarian women in the first trimester of their pregnancies. Depressive symptoms and trait-anxiety were evaluated with the Short Hungarian Version of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hungarian version of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y (STAI-Y). Results. The higher levels of both trait-anxiety and self-esteem decreased the folate-intake significantly, OR=0.925 (95%CI=0.863-0.991; P=0.026) and OR=0.897 (95%CI=0.808-0.996; P=0.041) while depressive symptoms did not have an effect on it. The lower level of education (less than 8 elementary years) had similar effects (OR=0.228 [95%CI=0.064-0.817], P=0,023). The lack of trust had a significant role too (P=0.043): those, who were distrustful with other people, also had a lower chance of supplementation (OR=0.620; 95%CI=0.390-0.986). Conclusions. The way to increase the openness towards folate-supplementation leads through the treatment of psychological disturbances and the restoration of social trust.