Folic acid use before and during first pregnancy and smoking during first pregnancy by age group of mother, Canada, 2011

Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from Bayrampour, H., & Heaman, M. (2011). Comparison of demographic and obstetric characteristics of Canadian primiparous women of advanced maternal age and younger age. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 33, 820-829.

Younger women are less likely to know about the benefits of folic acid and they are less likely to have taken folic acid prior to getting pregnant.

Women who have their first pregnancy between the ages of 20 to 29 are more likely to smoke prior to their pregnancy (28%) compared with women who are 35+ (18%).