The New River health district, in an effort to reduce birth defects, will soon start distributing folic acid supplements to women in its family planning program.

The distribution, which will begin Monday, is part of a statewide initiative. The New River district was chosen along with 18 other health districts around Virginia because of its rate of spina bifida in live births. The rate in the New River district is 6.59 cases per 10,000 live births, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

"It's a concerning rate," said Carolyn Dunford, a nurse manager for the New River health district. "Over a period of time, it's been significant."

Spina bifida is caused when a baby's spine does not close properly. Researchers don't know exactly what causes spina bifida, but they think it's connected to diet and genetics, Dunford said. She said she does not know why the rate in the New River district is higher than the statewide average. That average, from a study that covered 1989 to 1998, is 4.43 cases per 10,000 live births.

Dunford pointed out that the spine forms and closes within the first month of conception. So before a woman might even know she's expecting, the birth defect might have already been formed.

Daily consumption of 400 micrograms of B vitamin folic acid can reduce the risks of birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, when a baby's brain doesn't form properly, according to the state health department.

"Folic acid can make such an important, positive difference in pregnancy outcomes," Dunford said. "All women should take folic acid every day if they are between 11 and 45 years of age."

In addition to the distribution program at the New River health district, women can get folic acid from a daily multivitamin that has the recommended amount of folic acid, she said. They can also get it from foods enriched with folic acid such as cereal, bread, rice, pasta, and other grain products.

Folic acid is found naturally in foods including leafy green vegetables, asparagus, spinach, lentils, dried beans and orange juice, according to the health department.

The plan, through the statewide initiative, is to distribute the folic acid supplements for two years, then follow up with the subjects to see how they fared, Dunford said. Women who are part of the New River health district's family planning program or come in for pregnancy tests can participate, Dunford said. The district's family planning program serves about 1,000 women each year.

Other districts were chosen because they have significant Hispanic populations, which tend to have high rates of spina bifida and anencephaly. Each year, about 40 children are born in Virginia with spina bifida and 10 with anencephaly, according to the health department.