Answers About
Folic Acid & Neural Tube Defects

The brain and spinal cord are formed in the first 3–4 weeks of pregnancy. By the 4th week, the brain and spinal cord development is completed.

This is precisely why taking folic acid before becoming pregnant is so critical. Waiting until after you know you are pregnant is often too late to prevent these defects from forming.

Babies born with these defects will require surgery to correct the appearance of the child and to avoid serious infections such as meningitis — since the brain and spinal cord are exposed.

The surgery performed does not correct already damaged nerve structures, but helps prevent further damage. This means that many of these children may have some neurological deficit, for example:

Early surgery and ongoing medical management give children the best possible quality of life, but prevention remains far more effective than treatment.

The exact incidence of Spina Bifida in Nigeria is not precisely known. However, one thing is clear: the incidence is not reducing as it should.

Globally, neural tube defects are among the most common serious birth defects. In sub-Saharan Africa — including Nigeria — rates remain high, partly because awareness of folic acid supplementation is still low among women of childbearing age.

Most women only realise they are pregnant after they notice that their periods are late — which is at least 1 month, plus a few additional days or weeks depending on how long they wait to confirm.

This is why folic acid must be taken before getting pregnant, not after. All women of childbearing age who are sexually active should take it daily as a routine habit — not just when planning a pregnancy.

Fortunately, neural tube defects can be largely prevented by a simple, affordable measure that most women are unaware of.

It has been shown that daily intake of folic acid before and during early pregnancy can greatly reduce the chances of the baby having these defects. Folic acid also helps to prevent anaemia.

Folic acid works in that critical first 3–4 weeks of pregnancy, so it must already be present in your body before conception — not started once you discover you are pregnant.

Folic acid can be bought from any pharmacy near you across Nigeria. No prescription is required.

Information is key. Tell every woman around you — your mother, sisters, cousins, friends, neighbours — and together, we can prevent our children from these defects.

A quick summary of the most important facts about neural tube defects and folic acid prevention:

• Children are born daily with deformities to apparently healthy mothers — it can happen to anyone.
• The number of children born with these conditions is increasing worldwide, including Nigeria.
• One of these conditions is a group called neural tube defects — children born with swellings at the back or on the face.
• Fortunately, these deformities can be largely prevented by taking folic acid — even before becoming pregnant.
• 400mcg of folic acid daily is the recommended dose for all women of childbearing age.
• It is available at any pharmacy for approximately ₦700 for 100 tablets.
• Share this information with every woman you know.