|
 |
|
Birth defects outcomes
|
Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality, accounting
for more than one in five infant deaths in the United States. Neural
tube defects (NTDs) affect approximately 4,000 pregnancies in the U.S.
each year.
In Arkansas, 8 out of every 10,000 live births are affected by an NTD.
That is 30-40 pregnancies affected by this defect each year in the
state.
Folic acid can help
Research has shown that if moms-to-be take 400 micrograms of folic acid
(an inexpensive and simple B-vitamin) prior to conception and very early
in pregnancy then 50-70% of neural tube defects can be prevented. This
recommended amount of folic acid is more than is currently found in most
women’s normal diet, thus daily supplementation with a multivitamin or
folic acid vitamin is recommended for all women capable of becoming
pregnant.
Yet, few women are following this advice. The latest statistics from the
2003 survey from the March of Dimes shows that only one-third of women
of reproductive age are taking a multivitamin. Additional research in
Arkansas has shown that women who are younger or of a minority race are
even less likely to take a multivitamin containing folic acid (only 12%
of teenagers and 14% of African American women take a folic acid
containing vitamins daily).
Even more alarming is the fact that 50% of births in the state of
Arkansas are unplanned or mistimed at the time of conception. This point
early in pregnancy is the optimum time when developing fetuses need
folic acid the most. Unfortunately, our statistics tell us that most
pregnant women in the state may not be getting the recommended dose of
folic acid that could prevent these types of defects.
HOME /
BACK TO TOP /
CONTACT US
Arkansas Folic Acid
Coalition
Arkansas Center for
Birth Defects Research and Prevention
1120 Marshall Street, Mail Slot 512-40
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 364-5001--telephone
1-877-662-4567--toll-free
(501) 364-5107---fax
Questions
about this page? Send us an email.