MCHD observing National Folic Acid Awareness Week 09.12.25

September 12, 2025

MCHD observing National Folic Acid Awareness Week

MOBILE, Ala. — National Folic Acid Awareness Week is observed annually during the second full week of September. In 2025, this week will fall from September 14 to 20.

This week aims to raise awareness about the importance of folic acid, a B vitamin that plays a crucial role in preventing neural tube defects (NTD) in newborns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, either through diet or supplementation.

Birth defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly, are types of neural tube defects that develop very early in pregnancy, before most people even know they are pregnant. If folic acid is taken, either as a supplement or in fortified food, before and during early pregnancy, folic acid can prevent up to 70 percent of these serious birth defects.

The Mobile County Health Department’s Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Program was established to identify critical community strengths and weaknesses, as well as unique health and social issues, associated with poor outcomes of pregnancy. The program is a community-based statewide initiative designed to enhance the health and well-being of women, infants, and families through the review of deidentified cases of fetal (stillbirth) and infant deaths, and voluntary maternal interviews. The Mobile County FIMR Program, the Alabama Baby Coalition, began in 1998 and continues to be active in improving pregnancy outcomes.

“Folic acid reduces the risk of NTDs,” said Yvonne Baynard, who oversees the Alabama Baby Coalition. “The FIMR Case Review Team may identify cases where mothers did not receive appropriate preconception counseling or folic acid supplementation, especially in early pregnancy. The team highlights gaps in public awareness, provider education, or access to supplements.

“FIMR reviews uncover cases where newborn screening was not conducted, was delayed, or failed to trigger timely follow-up care. The review process can identify failures in screening processes or communication breakdowns between hospitals, labs, and providers.”

The FIMR Community Action Team uses these findings to recommend public health or community-based interventions, such as promoting folic acid supplementation campaigns, educating healthcare providers about preconception care, and improving systems for newborn screening follow-up and parental notification.

FIMR often partners with MCHD’s Maternal & Child Health programs and community organizations to ensure improvements are made based on findings related to folic acid use and newborn screening outcomes.