1. Day 1 You receive 2 reports on your desk
The first shows an increased incidence of spina bifida among births in the last 5 years in Virginia.
The second report shows decreasing use of multivitamins among young adults.

2. Neural Tube Defects What do you need to know?
In VA, ~175 babies are born each year with an NTD
Certain regions have a higher rate
Problems include some degree of paralysis or muscle weakness below area of opening, bladder and bowel control issues and hydrocephalus.
NTD’s are preventable birth defects and could be reduced by up to 70% if women consumed enough folic acid before and during pregnancy.

3. Types of Neural Tube Defects
From missinglink.ucsf.edu
The spinal cord begins as a flat region, which rolls into a tube (the neural tube) 28 days after the baby is conceived.
When the neural tube doesn’t close completely, an NTD develops.
NTDs develop before most women know they are even pregnant.

4. Causes of NTDs
Complex disorder caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors
Known environmental factors include decreased folic acid, maternal insulin dependent diabetes, maternal use of anti-seizure meds
NTDs are also a feature of known genetic syndromes like Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18

5. Folic Acid Recommendations
1991: The CDC recommended that high risk women plan pregnancies and consume 4,000 micrograms (4 mg) of folic acid daily from the time they begin trying to get pregnant through the first trimester of pregnancy.
1992: The U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid daily.
2008: US Preventive Services Task Force recommends women of childbearing age consume micrograms ( mg) folic acid daily

6. From Preventing Neural Tube Birth Defects: A Prevention Model and Resource Guide
Produced by the Centers for Disease Control, 2002.

7. Sources of Folic Acid Improved dietary habits:
Dark leafy green vegetables : micrograms/100g
Other vegetables: micrograms/100g
Fruits (particularly citrus): micrograms/100g
Beans (legumes): micrograms/100g
Whole grains: micrograms/100g
Breakfast cereals: micrograms/100g
Fortification of the U.S. food supply
FDA mandated enriched cereal-grain products be fortified with 140 micrograms of folic acid per 100g of flour in 1998 (voluntary from ).
Daily use of folic acid supplements

8. Folic Acid Awareness In 1995, In 2002,
52% of reproductive women were aware of the term folic acid
25% took a vitamin supplement containing folic acid daily.
In 2002,
80% of reproductive women aware of the term folic acid.
20% knew that folic acid could prevent birth defects
31% took a vitamin supplement containing folic acid daily. 40% in 2009.
*From March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. Folic Acid and the prevention of birth defects: A national survey of pre-pregnancy awareness and behavior among women of childbearing age, May Publication #

9. Healthy People 2020
To improve the health and wellbeing of women, infants, children and families
Objective MCH-14. Increase the proportion of women of childbearing potential with intake of at least 400 micrograms of folic acid from fortified foods or dietary supplements.
Baseline: 23.8 % of non-pregnant females aged 15 to 44 years reported a usual daily total intake of at least 400 μg of folic acid from fortified foods or dietary supplements in 2003–06
Target: 26.2 % 
Target-Setting Method: 10 % improvement

10. Healthy People 2020
Objective MCH-15. Reduce the proportion of women of childbearing potential who have low red blood cell folate.
Baseline: 24.5 % of non-pregnant females aged 15 to 44 years did have low red blood cell folate concentrations in 2003–06
Target: 22.1 % 
Target-Setting Method:10 % improvement

11. Barriers to Folic Acid Consumption
Psychosocial
Socioeconomic
Cultural
Financial
Familial behaviors and attitudes
Individual beliefs and attitudes
Before pregnancy

12. VA Health Districts with Highest NTD Rates 2005-2007
Use of Data from VaCARES for Neural Tube Defect Prevention and Education
T Causey, MS, J Bodurtha, MD, MPH, H Creswick, MS, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics
Introduction
In 1985, Virginia enacted legislation mandating a state birth defects registry
Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System (VaCARES) became a functional registry in 1987
Seventy eligible hospitals in Virginia now report discharges of children under the age of 2 with a birth defect through the online database VISITS (Virginia Infant Screening and Infant Tracking System), managed by Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
The goal of VaCARES is to gather information on the incidence of birth defects to aid with prevention, improvement of treatment and referrals, and supply of family resource information.
According to recent data from VaCARES, every year in Virginia:
More than 4600 babies are born with a birth defect
Approximately 175 babies are born
with a neural tube defect (NTD), giving
a rate of NTD of 16.4/10,000 livebirths
Certain regions in Virginia have a much
higher rate of NTD
Methods
In 2005, through funding provided by the CDC, a Folic Acid Supplements Distribution Program was designed to provide a nine month supply of 0.4mg folic acid supplements to women attending designated family planning clinics at health districts across the state. Using data collected from VaCARES, health districts were chosen based upon NTD rates. Additional data regarding proportion of Latino residents was also included. Surveys were distributed to women, in English or Spanish, prior to receiving supplements and after taking the supplements. Surveys gathered information on prior folic acid intake, prior pregnancies with NTD, compliance with daily use of folic acid, and occurrence of NTD in subsequent pregnancies.
Discussion
The finding that 75% of surveyed women do not consume a daily multivitamin highlights the ongoing need for continued folic acid awareness education in Virginia In 2008, through funding provided by the CDC, plans for a large-scale PSA multivitamin campaign were initiated. VaCARES data was again used to identify the regions in Virginia with the highest rates of NTD from Health districts with the highest incidence of Latino residents were also identified. Selected areas are highlighted below. A media campaign involving television and radio, in English and Spanish, will be designed. These PSA will encourage daily use of a multivitamin for all women, with emphasis on women ages These PSA will focus on a multivitamin with folic acid as part of a healthy lifestyle, rather than as a preconceptional tool.
SOUTHSIDE
Virginia Beach
Isle Of Wight
Newport News
Portsmouth
Hampton
Chesapeake
Suffolk City
Norfolk
Petersburg City
Colonial Heights
Nottoway
Prince George
Hopewell
Charles City
Chesterfield
New Kent
Dinwiddie
Amelia
Prince Edward
Cumberland
Sussex
Lunenburg
James City
Williamsburg
Gloucester
York
Powhatan
Henrico
Buckingham
Mathews
Middlesex
Lancaster
Southampton
Franklin City
Greensville
Brunswick
Goochland
Hanover
King William
Accomack
King And Queen
Northumberland
Richmond
Mecklenburg
Essex
Fluvanna
Charlotte
Appomattox
Campbell
Pittsylvania
Lynchburg City
Danville City
Bedford
Martinsville City
Roanoke
Montgomery
Henry
Patrick
Floyd
Nelson
Westmoreland
Caroline
Charlottesville City
Louisa
Lexington City
Buena Vista City
Rockbridge
Waynesboro City
Staunton City
Amherst
Albemarle
King George
Spotsylvania
Orange
Augusta
Greene
Bath
Fredericksburg City
Alleghany
Botetourt
Craig
Highland
Harrisonburg City
Madison
Pulaski
Carroll
Rockingham
Page
Stafford
Culpeper
Manassas City
Fairfax
Prince William
Fauquier
Rappahannock
Shenandoah
Warren
Giles
Tazewell
Wythe
Washington
Smyth
Bristol City
Russell
Scott
Dickenson
Wise
Winchester City
Loudoun
Clarke
Frederick
Lee
Bland
Buchanan
Franklin
Galax City
Northampton
Norton City
Richmond City
Roanoke City
South Boston City
Surry
VA Health Districts with Highest NTD Rates
CENTRAL SHENANDOAH
CHICKAHOM
PITTSYLVANIA-DANVILLE
THREE RIVERS
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Results:
Over 100,000 bottles of folic acid supplements were distributed. A stratified random sample was performed on over 20,000 pre-and post surveys to obtain the final unmatched sample number of 3,057 surveys (1,511 new patient surveys, 1,491 returning patient surveys). While analysis is ongoing, preliminary survey analysis shows:
There was a statistically significant increase in the number of returning patients who reported taking folic acid/ multivitamin versus the number of new patients taking folic acid/multivitamin (22.9% vs. 17.2%, p<0.01).
71.6% of women surveyed accepted folic acid supplements or multivitamins when offered.
Black women were statistically less likely to report taking folic acid or multivitamins.
Hispanic women were less likely than expected to not receive folic acid supplementation from the family planning clinic (i.e. health department staff were successful in distribution to Hispanic patients).
75% of women surveyed still are not consuming a multivitamin or folic acid daily.
Folic acid supplementation may also aid in prevention of other birth defects, as well as possibly reducing the risk for prematurity. As birth defects and prematurity are the two leading risk factors for infant mortality in Virginia, it is hoped that folic acid campaigns will have a positive impact on future reduction of fetal and infant mortality rates in Virginia.
Conclusion
Folic acid preventable birth defects still occur in Virginia.
Folic acid messages should promote a healthy lifestyle.
Key References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for the use of folic acid to reduce the number of cases of spina bifida and other neural tube defects. MMWR 1992:RR-14.
March of Dimes Foundation. Improving Preconception Health: Women’s Knowledge and Use of Folic Acid. Survey by The Gallup Organization December.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the dedication and partnership of the Virginia Department of Health and the funding opportunity provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative agreement No. U50/CCU
Based upon research from the March of Dimes, only 40% of women consume folic acid daily, and only 18% of women know that folic acid can prevent certain birth defects.

13. Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Survey

14. Recall your task Address
1. The increased incidence of spina bifida among births in the last 5 years in Virginia.
2. The decreasing use of multivitamins among young adults.

15. Which Public Health Genomic Competencies Apply?
Apply the basic public health sciences to genomic issues and studies and genetic testing, using the genomic vocabulary to attain the goal of disease prevention.
Collaborate with existing and emerging health agencies and organizations, academic, research, private and commercial enterprises, including genomic-related businesses, agencies and organizations and community partnerships to identify and solve genomic-related problems.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge on the development of genetic advances and technologies relevant to his/her specialty or field of expertise and learn the uses of genomics as a tool for achieving public health goals related to his/her field or area of practice.

16. Which essential public health services would you recommend
Which essential public health services would you recommend? (See Framework on Next Slide for Ideas)

18. A Potential Action Plan
Public Health Service
Inform, educate and empower people about health issues
Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems
You decide to launch a TV and radio campaign about the benefits of multivitamin use among young adults. You also partner with local health departments to give out multivitamins.