Maternal
and Child Health
Coalition of Greater
Press Release
Contact: Cesar Motts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
816.283-6242 Ext. 249 January 10, 2006
Higher Health Risk for
Hispanic Women Increases Need for Folic Acid Awareness
Kansas
City, MO- The Maternal and Child Health Coalition (MCHC) joins the National
Council on Folic Acid (NCFA) in an effort to increase awareness among Hispanic
women about the benefits of folic acid consumption during National Folic Acid Awareness Week,
January 9-15, 2006.
Research indicates that consumption of folic
acid in women of childbearing age is a critical preventive measure to lower the
rate of neural tube defects (NTDs), serious birth defects of the brain and the
spine. Folic acid is a B vitamin that is necessary for proper cell growth.
Hispanic women in the
National
Folic Acid Awareness Week was created to educate the public about folic acid,
encouraging all women of childbearing age to take 400 micrograms of folic acid
every day through consumption of a daily multivitamin and eating fortified
grains as part of a healthy diet, as recommended by the U.S. Public Health
Service.
Spina bifida, the most common NTD, is
the leading cause of childhood paralysis and presents lifelong challenges for
affected families. According to 2004 data from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, Hispanic women have the lowest reported folic acid awareness
and consumption of any racial or ethnic group, and these birth defects occur
with the most frequency among
Research has shown that if adequate
amounts of folic acid are consumed before and during early pregnancy, up to 70
percent of neural tube defects such as spina bifida can be prevented. In
addition, emerging research indicates that folic acid may reduce the risks of
other birth defects, such as cleft lip, cleft palate and heart defects, and may
reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and colon, cervical and breast cancer.
Maternal
and Child Health Coalition promotes the health of mothers and children through
community planning, education, advocacy and collaboration with organizations
addressing infant mortality, immunization, childhood obesity, maternal health and
child safety.
For
more information about folic acid and National Folic Acid Awareness Week, visit
the website of the National Council on Folic Acid, www.folicacidinfo.org or please
contact Cesar Motts at Maternal and Child Health Coalition, 6400 Prospect,
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