One day some weeks ago, a young mother of a seven-month-old baby from Jharkhand called in tears, about her child who was born with a large lump on his back and was unable to move his legs. Local doctors did not give her any information about the problem that her newborn had, and were also not responsive about treatment options.. The infant seemed otherwise normal, and in the first six months was growing as any other child, except for paralysis of his lower limbs. He smiled, recognised his parents and was a great source of joy for the entire family. But his diagnosis and treatment had remained unknown to the parents. They were not informed that this birth defect is called Spina Bifida and is the commonest birth defect in India. Nor were they aware that this serious condition can potentially be prevented by taking a folic acid tablet periconceptionally. And most of all, they were not aware that there are several medical and surgical treatments for children born with this condition.
Why Awareness About Folic Acid to Prevent Spina Bifida Must Become a Public Health Priority
Spina Bifida is a serious birth defect affecting the spine and spinal cord, leading to lifelong disabilities in children. Medical research has long established that pre-conceptional intake of folic acid by women can prevent more than 70% of these cases. Despite this, awareness about folic acid supplementation remains critically low in many countries, including India, which continues to report one of the highest prevalence rates of Spina Bifida worldwide.
The lack of knowledge among women of reproductive age, coupled with limited public health initiatives, means that many pregnancies remain at risk of this preventable condition. Educating women, families, and communities about the importance of folic acid before and during early pregnancy can significantly reduce the incidence of Spina Bifida, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
Making folic acid awareness a public health priority involves integrating information into routine healthcare services, school education, and national health campaigns. By doing so, policymakers can ensure that every woman has the knowledge and access needed to protect future generations from preventable birth defects.
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