Data & Statistics

Neural Tube Defects

The neural tube is the fetal structure that develops into the brain and spinal cord.  If the neural tube does not close during fetal development, the baby may be born with a neural tube defect.

The two most common neural tube defects are:

• Spina bifida (spi-na bif-a-da)
• Anencephaly (an-en-sef-a-lee)

Up to 70% of neural tube defects can be prevented by getting enough of the B vitamin folic acid every day, starting before a woman gets pregnant.

Virginia Data

Virginia neural tube defects 10-year trend data for spinal bifida, anencephaly, and encephalocele are presented in the report entitled "Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System: Birth Defect Surveillance Data 1989-1998." To view the report, click on either of the following links.

• VaCARES Report (PDF)
• VaCARES Interactive Web Site (HTML)

Spina Bifida

• Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect that happens in the first month of pregnancy when the neural tube cord doesn’t close at the bottom.

• Spina bifida can cause paralysis of the lower body with no control of bowel or bladder, and learning disabilities.
• Approximately 40 babies are born each year in Virginia with spinal bifida.

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Anencephaly

• Anencephaly is a neural tube defect that happens when the neural tube doesn’t close at the top, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp.
• If the infant is not stillborn, then he or she will usually die within a few hours or days after birth.
• Approximately 10 babies are born each year in Virginia with anencephaly.

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Folic acid is a B vitamin that prevents certain birth defects and may reduce your risk for heart disease and certain cancers.

Make sure you get enough folic acid every day through a multivitamin or folic acid pill and eat healthy.

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