Services

Virginia Council on Folic Acid

Since the Virginia Council on Folic Acid (VCFA) inception in 1999, the VCFA has targeted the communication for women of childbearing age to eat foods high in folate and the use of folic acid supplements to health care professionals, the priority population, and the general public.

Educational materials are available for the awareness and necessity about folic acid. The material availability and distribution is maintained as well as outreach to pertinent professionals, agencies, programs, and the public.

The VCFA concentrates prevention activities in three major areas:

• Professional Education
• Community Education
• Mass Media

The VCFA has 49 members with representatives from diverse organizations, inclusive yet not limited to:

• March of Dimes,
• Head Start
• Virginia Department of Health
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Virginia Dietetic Association
• Virginia Perinatal Councils
• Virginia Dental Association
• Virginia Chapter of American Association of Pediatrics
• Virginia Pharmacy Association
• Virginia Commonwealth University.

Organizations and agencies that are not members of the Council also support the campaign, i.e. For The Children Partners in Prevention, Inc.; local health departments; and Healthy Start Programs.
VCFA – Progress Report January  - September 2005

Folic Acid Supplements Distribution Plan

Beginning in July 2005, the Virginia Department of Health began to offer folic acid supplements to patients in selected VDH family planning clinics. An evaluation component has been has been incorporated into the projects. Approximately 43,000 women, or 59 percent of VDH's family planning patients, are expected to receive the supplement during the two-year program. Research has shown that women are more likely to take folic acid when a physician or allied health professional recommends it. We are using the two most effective ways to increase the use of folic acid-providing advice from a health care provider and distributing the supplement directly to clients. The program is targeting 19 health districts to participate in the distribution program that had spina bifida birth rates of at least 5.24 per 10,000 live births. Districts whose family planning clients were at least 29 percent Hispanic were also chosen, as several studies have shown that the Hispanic population experiences higher rates of neural tube birth defects.

The following health districts were chosen for the folic acid distribution program due to their increased rates of spina bifida. They are listed with their spina bifida birth rates per 10,000 live births.

DISTRICT SPINA BIFIDA RATE Central Virginia 6.91 Cumberland 6.66 Eastern Shore 6.66 Lord Fairfax 5.34 Mount Rogers 5.50 New River 6.59 Piedmont 5.54 Pittsylvania/Danville 5.24 Rappahannock 6.15 Rappahannock/Rapidan 7.91 Southside 6.86 West Piedmont 5.92

The following health districts were chosen for the program because their family planning clients are at least 29 percent Hispanic:

• Alexandria
• Arlington
• Chesterfield
• Fairfax
• Henrico
• Loudoun
• Prince William

---

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.

---

---