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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

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[Neural defect prevalence in 248,352 consecutive newborns].

Ricardo Jorge Hernández-Herrera¹, Luis Gerardo Alcalá-Galván, Roberto Flores-Santos

¹Departamento de Genética, Hospital de Ginecoobstetricia 23, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. richdzher@hotmail.com

Revista Medica Del Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social

|January 10, 2009

Summary

A public health initiative providing weekly folic acid supplementation to women of reproductive age significantly reduced neural tube defects by 41%. This intervention demonstrated a notable decrease in spina bifida rates, highlighting the importance of folic acid in preventing birth defects.

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Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Public Health
Neonatal Medicine

Context:

Neural tube defects (NTDs) represent a significant public health concern, particularly in developing nations.
A folic acid supplementation program was implemented by the Secretaría de Salud in Nuevo León, Mexico.
The program provided 5 mg of folic acid weekly to women of reproductive age.

Purpose:

To evaluate the prevalence of neural tube defects.
To assess the impact of a public health program on NTD rates.
To compare NTD rates before and after folic acid supplementation implementation.

Summary:

A 10-year study analyzed 248,352 deliveries, identifying 319 cases of NTDs.
Prior to the folic acid program (1995-1999), the NTD rate was 16.01 per 10,000 deliveries.
After the program (2000-2004), the NTD rate decreased to 9.31 per 10,000, a 41.8% reduction (p <0.001).
Significant reductions were observed in spina bifida (63.4%, p < 0.001) and a non-significant decrease in anencephaly (28.3%).

Impact:

The folic acid supplementation program led to a substantial decline in neural tube defects.
The findings underscore the effectiveness of public health interventions in reducing preventable birth defects.
This study provides evidence for the critical role of folic acid in preventing NTDs.