Definition
Number of children born with spina bifida per 10,000 live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Numerator
Number of children born with spina bifida among live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Denominator
Count of all live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Why Is This Important?
Spina bifida is a neural tube defect caused by the failure of the fetus's spine to close properly during the first few week of pregnancy. Research with humans and animals suggests a genetic basis for the defect. It is considered likely that spina bifida results from the interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors.
Research has shown that lack of folic acid is a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of neural tube defects, including spina bifida. Supplementation of the mother's diet with folic acid can reduce the overall incidence of neural tube defects by about 70 percent.