S.C.R. No. 15 Summary

• Expresses Ohio General Assembly support for increasing public awareness and education about folic acid's importance for women of childbearing age to prevent neural tube defects.

• States that neural tube defects occur in approximately 1 of every 1,000 pregnancies in the United States and can be prevented with proper folic acid consumption before and during early pregnancy.

• Notes that major health organizations recommend women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of synthetic folic acid daily from vitamins or fortified foods, along with a healthy diet containing natural folate sources.

• Identifies a gap in public knowledge: while 84% of women have heard of folic acid, only 39% take daily vitamins containing folate, 20% know it prevents birth defects, and 11% know to take it before pregnancy.

• Suggests collaboration among the Ohio Department of Health, State Medical Board of Ohio, Ohio Board of Nursing, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, and Ohio Department of Insurance to increase public awareness and education on folic acid.