Younger women and women living in remote areas are more likely
to have neural tube defect (NTD) affected pregnancies than older
women and women living in major cities according to a report
released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare.
The report Neural tube defects in Australia, showed
that teenage women had the highest rate of NTD affected pregnancies
and women aged 30-34 years the lowest.
'Multiple pregnancies were also more likely to have neural tube
defects than singleton pregnancies,' said Dr Samanthi Abeywardana
of the Institute's National Perinatal Statistics Unit.
Neural tube defects are major congenital anomalies that result
from very early disruption in the development of the brain and
spinal cord.
Surviving children are at high risk of frequent illnesses,
disability and death.
Spina bifida is the most commonly known neural tube defect.
'During last three decades, mounting evidence has shown that
increased intake of folic acid during the period around conception
corresponds with a decreased prevalence of neural tube defects,' Dr
Abeywardana said.
'In light of this evidence Australia will join many other
developed countries in implementing mandatory folic acid
fortification of bread making flour (from September 2009) to
minimise the births affected with neural tube defects,' she
said.
Although there is only about 1 NTD-affected birth per 2000
births, the estimated prevalence of neural tube defects among
pregnancies is much higher, at more than 1 per 1000, because some
women diagnosed with NTD-affected pregnancies opt for planned
termination.
'And, because figures on spontaneous miscarriage due to neural
tube defects are not available, the actual prevalence rate among
pregnancies is likely to be even higher than this estimated
prevalence,' she said.
Although there was no obvious decreasing trend among births in
recent years, there was a decrease of over 30% in the neural tube
defects prevalence among affected pregnancies between 1992 and
2005.
Wednesday 5
November2008
Further information: Dr Samanthi Abeywardana,
tel. 02 9382 1137, mob. 0403 225 710 or Prof. Carol Bower 08 9489
7751
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of the report Neural tube defects
in Australia.