Spina Bifida Association of America

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Spina Bifida Association of America

• Mission
• To promote the prevention of spina bifida and to
  enhance the lives of all affected
• Local Group Members
• 59 group members across the country

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Topic Spina Bifida Awareness

• What is spina bifida?
• most common life-long birth defect of the spine

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One out of every 1,000 newborns in the United
States has spina bifida.
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Spina bifida is a neural tube defect (NTD)
involving incomplete formation of the spine.
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Neural Tube
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Not all cases of spina bifida are the same.

• Typical characteristics may include
• paralysis of the legs
• loss of bowel and bladder control
• learning disabilities

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• Individuals with spina bifida may lead successful
  and productive lives.

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Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)

• Can happen in any family
• NTDs like spina bifida occur during the first
  month of pregnancy before most women know they
  are pregnant.

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Factors related to spina bifida

• genetic factors
• environmental factors
• folic acid deficiency - preventable

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Folic acid may reduce the risk.

• Studies have shown that the B vitamin folic acid
  can reduce the chances of having a child with a
  NTD by up to 75.
• Since most pregnancies are not planned, it is
  important for all women who could become pregnant
  to take folic acid everyday.
• Additional benefits for both men and women
  include fighting heart disease and colon and
  cervical cancers.

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Folic Acid RecommendationsU.S. Public
Health Service (1992) and Institutes of Medicine
(1998)

• All women who could become pregnant
• 400 micrograms (400mcg)
• Also written as 0.4 milligrams (0.4 mg)
• found in over-the-counter multivitamins
• Women with a history of NTDs (have a child with
  spina bifida, have spina bifida themselves, have
  had an affected pregnancy)
• 4000 micrograms (4000mcg)
• Also written as 4.0 milligrams (4.0 mg)
• Need a prescription for this amount

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Remembering folic acid

• Women agree that folic acid can help reduce the
  chances of a neural tube defect and that it is
  important for women with a history of NTDs, but
  they sometimes forget to take it.
• Connect taking a folic acid supplement to
  something you already do everyday
• brush your teeth feed the dog
• eat lunch read the newspaper
• any other daily activity!

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Folic acid is not a guarantee, but it can help!

• Many factors influence pregnancy, e.g. genetics,
  things a woman may come in contact with during
  pregnancy
• Folic acid intake alone will not ensure a healthy
  baby
• Taking folic acid every day, and before and
  during early pregnancy, reduces the risk of
  having a child with spina bifida.

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Opportunities and responsibilities for health
care providers

• Give information about folic acid to any woman
  that could get pregnant
• Waiting room
• Examination room
• When filling out any paper work
• Identify women who have a history of neural tube
  defects and need more folic acid
• Patient history
• During exam

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Opportunities and responsibilities for health
care providers (contd)

• Prescribe 4000 mcg of folic acid for women who
  have a history of neural tube defects and are
  planning a pregnancy
• Tell women to take folic acid

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How can I help?

• Tell your friends and family about spina bifida

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Resources

• FILL IN YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION HERE

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Resources (contd)

• Spina Bifida Association of America
• 4590 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Suite 250
• Washington, DC 20007-4226
• 1-800-621-3141
• Email sbaa_at_sbaa.org
• Web site www.sbaa.org