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Arizona March of Dimes has developed Folic Acid educational curriculum now in use nationwide.
Consuming 400 mcg of folic acid daily, starting before you become pregnant, may reduce the rate of neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida by more than 70 percent. March of Dimes suggests taking a daily multivitamin containing folic acid as a simple and effective way to get the recommended amount of the B vitamin.
Under the volunteer leadership of perinatologist Dr. Jordan Perlow, the March of Dimes Arizona Chapter has produced educational materials being used nationwide, including a CD-ROM and "Folic Acid 400" training manual for healthcare providers, outreach workers and educational institutions, focused on the importance of educating women about the role of folic acid in preventing birth defects. More than 2,500 CD-ROMs have been distributed throughout Arizona, and thousands more are currently being distributed nationwide. This curriculum is available in English and Spanish.
Since the inception of the bilingual March of Dimes Folic Acid Campaign in 1996, neural tube birth defects have been reduced by 22 percent in Arizona, due in part to ongoing distribution of informational materials, through public service announcements aired on TV, radio and in print, and through partnerships developed in our state to distribute multivitamins to high risk women in communities across Arizona.
To obtain the Folic Acid CD-ROM, contact Diane Zipley, State Director of Programs and Public Affairs at dzipley@marchofdimes.com.
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