We aimed to explore pregnant Pakistani women's beliefs and attitudes concerning folic-acid consumption in early pregnancy. Thirteen pregnant Pakistani women were recruited from general practice antenatal clinics in Nottingham. They were inter viewed in depth. The interviews were tape-recorded and analysed qualitatively. None of the women had taken folic acid. Most said they would take folic acid only if it was both recommended and prescribed by their general practitioner (GP). None remembered their GP or midwife discussing folic acid with them. The GP has an important role in alerting Pakistani women to the benefits of folic acid.
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