It is evident that further strategies additional to fortification are required in Australia to ensure that pregnant women
consume adequate amounts of folic acid and iodine for optimal pregnancy outcomes. This may require advocacy
and lobbying of health service providers to encourage greater uptake of pregnancy supplement formulations, as recommended by health agencies in the country.5,6 Additionally, health education programmes, using tailored plain language oral and verbal communication strategies may be needed to increase awareness in women of child-bearing age, especially among women with poor health literacy skills.21,22 Other practical approaches that could be incorporated into the health education programmes include the use of simple illustrations and education materials suitable for women with poor health literacy skills.23 Moreover, women could potentially benefit from carrying their own case notes during pregnancy,24 as well as from receiving prompts in their e-health records.25 The current study was undertaken to identify knowledge and practices of pregnant women regarding folic acid and iodine upplementation in order to inform such public health interventions.