Multivitamin Use in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Objective. Relatively few studies have investigated characteristics associated with multivitamin use in pregnant women in the U.S. We examined multivitamin use among pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age, in relation to socioeconomic factors, demographic data, health behaviors, and health status. Methods. This investigation used 2004 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a cross-sectional study of noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 years or older. Analyses were limited to women 18 to 44 years of age in states and territories where questions about multivitamin use were asked. Results. Overall, 78% of pregnant women reported multivitamin use, compared with 47% of women who were not pregnant. Using logistic regression, two factors were found to be significantly associated with multivitamin use in pregnant women: income and marital status. Among nonpregnant women, the significant predictors were age, income, physical activity, education level, desire for a child in the near future, race/ethnicity; body mass index, and cigarette smoking status. Conclusion. We found differences in the reported use of multivitamins between pregnant and nonpregnant women of childbearing age as well as predictors of use.