Welcome to the Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition
 

Arkansas Center receives grant from Blue and You Foundation 

The Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (Arkansas Center) the lead agency of the Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition (the Coalition), received a grant from the Blue and You Foundation to fund the Arkansas Folic Acid Education Program (Program).  In collaboration with the Coalition, the Program’s goal is to reduce the occurrence of folate-preventable birth defects by increasing the knowledge and intake of folic acid among Arkansas women of childbearing age.  The additional funds awarded by the Blue and You Foundation allows for an expansion of Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition activities. 

 The Program consists of three educational components:  (1) public health education; (2) postpartum patient education; and (3) health care provider education. 

 Since 1999, the Coalition has participated in many public health education events.  .  With the additional funding, the Coalition has begun expanding its reach throughout the state of Arkansas for community-based educational displays.

 The postpartum component of the Program will build upon a recent study conducted by the Arkansas Center which demonstrated an increase in regular folic acid use through a very brief health care provider intervention (Cleves MA, Hobbs CA, Collins HB, Andrews N, Smith L, Robbins JM. Folic acid use by women receiving routine gynecologic care. Obstet Gynecol 2004;103:746-753).  Using the information obtained from this study, a Program Nurse  delivers brief advice on the benefits of folic acid to  postpartum women at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences prior to discharge.   

 In addition, the Program Nurse works to increase the number of health care providers who recommend taking a daily multivitamin containing folic acid to their female patients of childbearing age.  This educational component will be accomplished through professional health care conferences, grand rounds, teleconferences, and visits to provider offices throughout Arkansas.

 For more information, contact Bettye Flowers, R.N. at 1-877-662-4567 or e-mail at flowersbettyes@uams.edu.

 


 
One Mother's Story

"When I am pregnant, I am fanatic about doing everything I can to ensure the healthiest start in life for my baby. I read every pregnancy book and magazine.  I stop drinking caffeine. I don’t color my hair or take hot baths. I eat the healthiest meals and I take 400 micrograms of the B vitamin folic acid every day.

Research has shown 400 micrograms of folic acid taken every day, beginning three months before pregnancy and during pregnancy, will reduce the chances of having a child with a neural tube defect, like spina bifida, by 50-70 percent. In my case, it didn’t."
                                 -Julie Mayberry
Read entire story

 

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Arkansas Folic Acid Coalition
Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention
1120 Marshal Street, Mail Slot 512-40
Little Rock, AR  72202
(501) 364-5001--telephone
1-877-662-4567--toll-free
(501) 364-5107---fax