Each year in the U.S., 1,500 babies are born with spina bifida, a birth defect caused by lack of folic acid in the mother’s diet. Spina bifida, like many other birth defects, can be prevented. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking a daily folic acid supplement prior to becoming pregnant and during pregnancy, which could prevent up to 70 percent of brain and spinal cord defects like spina bifida. This condition disproportionately affects children born to Hispanic women.
Throughout January – National Birth Defects Prevention Month – numerous efforts focused on raising awareness about the importance of preconception health in reducing birth defects. Through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, we are also working to increase awareness of the protections of the Affordable Care Act that promote healthy moms and babies; because we understand that raising a healthy child begins long before you first see your baby’s precious face.
The exact cause of spina bifida remains a mystery. According to the CDC, Hispanic women are up to three times more likely to have a child with spina bifida, and are less likely to consume folic acid before pregnancy or even know about the link between the nutrient and healthy brain and spinal cord development. Additionally, Hispanic women are less likely have health insurance or receive regular preventive care, both of which are linked to poorer health outcomes.
Greater access to health insurance and health care is crucial to reducing these and other disparities. Today, the Affordable Care Act is helping to deliver affordable, quality health care for millions of Americans, including minority and low-income women. The Hispanic population remains a key group for outreach efforts to learn more about health care coverage, as this continues community continues to have the highest uninsured rate, at 32.4 percent. Still, the percentage of uninsured Hispanics is down 6.3 points since the end of 2013.
The health care law has provided more affordable options for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and ensures that most health plans cover a number of important, free preventive services and screenings for women. Those preventive services include access to folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant; support and counseling for breastfeeding; screenings for conditions that affect reproductive health like cervical cancer, obesity and diabetes; and annual well-woman visits.
For women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, a diet that includes 400 micrograms of folic acid daily and early prenatal care are critical steps to reducing risk of birth defects and increasing likelihood of having a healthy baby.
But even for women who are not planning a pregnancy, preconception health is still important. The Office of Minority Health’s Preconception Peer Educators (PPE) Program stresses this message to college-age women and men across the country, encouraging them to adopt healthy habits now to prepare for the future. Since 2007, the PPE program has trained more than 1,500 students at over 100 colleges and universities to serve as health educators on their campuses and in their communities.
Throughout the year — whether you are a provider, an advocate, a family member or a friend – it’s important to share the message about making healthy choices now with the women you know, and encourage those who don’t have health coverage to visit the Marketplace and learn about their options for affordable health care. Healthy babies begin with healthy parents, healthy families and healthy communities.
Joanna Blonska is the Senior Media Relations Specialist at the Office of Minority Health Resource Center.