Overview

Folic acid is a B vitamin that is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects by as much as 70%. Neural tube defects are birth defects of a baby's brain or spine that happen during the first few weeks of pregnancy--often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Spina bifida is the most common type of neural tube defect in the United States. It occurs when the spinal cord and back bones do not develop properly. Many cases of spina bifida are preventable. To prevent such birth defects, a woman must have enough folic acid in her body both before and during her pregnancy.

Each year in the United States, about one in every 33 babies is born with some type of birth defect. In fact, one in five infant deaths is a result of a birth defect. Each year in the United States, 3000 pregnancies are affected by a neural tube defect. Most women in the United States do not consume enough folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects. The challenge for public health is to educate women about folic acid and to increase folic acid consumption. In Denver, Colorado, this effort is led by a partnership of local and state public health and non-profit organizations dedicated to realizing the benefits of folic acid and preventing birth defects in their community and across the nation.

Public Health Grand Rounds Goal

This program will seek to increase knowledge and awareness of folic acid and its role in birth defect prevention and the opportunities that exist in public health practice to increase the consumption of folic acid among women of childbearing age.

Objectives

• Describe the potential for folic acid to reduce neural tube defects.
• Describe the accomplishments of folic acid fortification.
• Identify the gaps that still exist in reaching the full prevention potential of folic acid.
• Identify three misconceptions regarding folic acid.
• Identify two complete sources of folic acid.
• Identify three opportunities to increase folic acid awareness and consumption in the community.

Target Audience

Public health leaders, managers, professionals from local and state health departments, private physician practices, hospitals, community-based health organizations, boards of health, federal agencies, academic institutions and others who are interested in maternal and child health, preconception health, and the prevention of birth defects.

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