Every October, the world observes Spina Bifida Awareness Month, a time to educate, advocate, and raise awareness for children and families affected by this congenital condition. At World Forgotten Children Foundation (WFCF), we believe it is especially important to spotlight the challenges faced by children in developing countries, where spina bifida continues to carry devastating consequences due to limited access to prevention and care.
Understanding Spina Bifida
Spina bifida occurs when the spinal column fails to close properly during early pregnancy, leading to varying degrees of disability. Children born with the condition may face mobility challenges, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and in severe cases, life-threatening complications. In the United States, approximately 1,278 babies are born with spina bifida each year. This equates to about 1 in every 2,875 births. Preventive measures, such as taking folic acid before and during pregnancy, have helped lower the prevalence. In fact, since the United States introduced folic acid fortification in 1998, the rate of neural tube defects (NTDs) has decreased by more than 20%, and the severity of spina bifida cases has dropped by 70%.
These advancements underscore the power of prevention, but they also highlight the disparity between high-income countries and regions where such measures are not widely implemented.
A Global Challenge
Worldwide, an estimated 300,000 pregnancies are affected by NTDs each year, and spina bifida accounts for about half of these cases. While the global average for NTD prevalence is roughly 2 per 1,000 births, the rates rise sharply in regions without folic acid fortification or consistent access to prenatal care. In Eastern Africa, for example, studies estimate NTD prevalence at 33 per 10,000 births, several times higher than in the United States and Europe. Country-level data on the birth prevalence of NTDs reveal especially alarming rates: 75 per 10,000 live births in Algeria, 61.43 in Ethiopia, 39 in Eritrea, and 32.77 in Nigeria.
These figures reveal a stark truth: children in developing countries are not only more likely to be born with spina bifida, but they also face far greater challenges in accessing the care and resources necessary for survival and quality of life.
Life Beyond Survival
Even when children survive birth, access to treatment remains a significant barrier. In many developing countries, hospitals are unequipped to provide the urgent neurosurgical procedures needed within the first days of life. Long-term care is also scarce; orthopedic, neurological, and urological specialists are few and often concentrated in urban centers, far from rural families. Beyond medical care, children face social challenges.
Misunderstandings about disabilities can lead to stigma and exclusion from education, leaving many children with spina bifida isolated from their peers and unable to reach their full potential.
Why Awareness Matters
Spina Bifida Awareness Month is an opportunity to shine a light on these disparities and to emphasize the importance of prevention, early intervention, and inclusive support systems. The success of folic acid fortification in countries like the United States proves that prevention works, and extending these measures globally could spare tens of thousands of children each year from unnecessary suffering.
WFCF’s Commitment
At WFCF, we are committed to changing this reality. Our work focuses on funding projects that provide mobility aids and other resources to help children live with dignity and independence.
This October, we invite you to join us in observing Spina Bifida Awareness Month by learning more, sharing knowledge, and supporting initiatives that ensure no child with spina bifida is forgotten. With greater awareness and collective action, we can make meaningful progress in creating a world where every child, regardless of where they are born, has the chance to thrive.
Support WFCF
The mission of WFCF supports projects that promote the health and welfare needs of underprivileged communities and orphaned children with disabilities in developing countries. Make a donation today.
