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Background on Birth Defects in the United States

Background on Birth Defects in the United States (cont.). The leading fatal types of birth defects are heart, followed by respiratory, chromosomal and nervous systemThe cause of 2 out of 3 birth defects is unknown. Leading Causes of Infant Mortality United States, 1997. Rate per 100,000 live births.

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Background on Birth Defects in the United States

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    1. Background on Birth Defects in the United States Birth defects have been the leading cause of infant mortality in the US for at least the past 20 years Each year an estimated 4% of all newborns have serious birth defects

    2. Background on Birth Defects in the United States (cont.) The leading fatal types of birth defects are heart, followed by respiratory, chromosomal and nervous system The cause of 2 out of 3 birth defects is unknown

    3. Leading Causes of Infant Mortality United States, 1997

    4. Birth Defects-Specific Infant Mortality Rates United States, 1997

    5. Background on Neural Tube Defects and Folic Acid ~ 4,000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects (NTDs) annually in the US In 1992, the USPHS recommended that all women who are capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 micrograms of the B vitamin folic acid daily to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected by NTDs

    6. Background on Neural Tube Defects and Folic Acid (cont.) At least half of NTDs could be prevented with daily intake of folic acid in the periconceptional period About half of all pregnancies are unintended

    7. Folic Acid Awareness March of Dimes Folic Acid Survey

    8. Folic Acid-Specific Knowledge March of Dimes Folic Acid Survey

    9. Source of Information on Folic Acid March of Dimes Folic Acid Survey

    10. Daily Use of Folic Acid or Multivitamin Containing Folic Acid March of Dimes Folic Acid Survey

    11. Summary - Folic Acid Survey Although many women have heard of folic acid, very few understand that it helps prevent certain birth defects and even fewer know that it should be taken before pregnancy Only one third of women of childbearing age take a vitamin containing folic acid daily

    12. Summary (cont.) Younger women and those with lower levels of education are the least likely to consume a vitamin containing folic acid daily

    13. Summary (cont.) The small behavioral change in daily consumption of vitamins containing folic acid in comparison with larger increases in the awareness of the benefits of folic acid suggests that influencing behavioral change requires a long-term approach

    14. Summary (cont.) More can be done to inform women of childbearing age of the benefits of good nutrition and daily consumption of a vitamin containing folic acid While health care providers have increased slightly as a source of information on the benefits of folic acid, most women obtain their information from the media

    15. March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center Office of the Medical Director 1275 Mamaroneck Ave. White Plains, NY 10605 PerinatalDataCenter@modimes.org 914.997.4515 or 4549 http://www.modimes.org 888.MODIMES

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