Folic acid campaign and evaluation--southwestern Virginia, 1997-1999

A needs assessment conducted in rural southwestern Virginia in 1996 indicated higher rates of birth defects in that region than in the entire state. In response to these findings, in January 1997 the regional perinatal council conducted a community folic acid information campaign designed to raise awareness about the 1992 Public Health Service recommendation that all women who are capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microg (0.4 mg) of the B vitamin folic acid every day to decrease their risk for having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida or other neural tube defects (NTDs). This report describes the information campaign and the findings from precampaign and postcampaign surveys, which showed a significant increase in reported awareness and knowledge of the benefits of folic acid and reported knowledge about the sources of folic acid.