The prevalence of smoking among pregnant and postpartum women in Israel: a national survey and review.

Background: Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is a significant health risk to the developing fetus. In order to develop and implement an appropriate preconceptional and prenatal smoking cessation program a national pregnancy risk survey was done.

Methods: The survey was conducted through the Public Health Service's, Mother and Child Health Clinics (MCHC).

Increased awareness, knowledge and utilization of preconceptional folic acid in Israel following a national campaign.

Background: To decrease the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), the Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) issued guidelines in August 2000 recommending daily folic acid (FA) supplementation for women in their childbearing age, and concurrently launched a national FA campaign. Campaign effects were assessed by comparing the results of a survey done in 2002 with a baseline survey done in June 2000.

Methods: Both surveys were done within the network of the Public Health Services' Mother and Child Health Clinics (MCHC).