Executive Summary

Roughly $200,000 is available in FY 2002 funds for a prevention recurrence program for neural tube defects to increase "maternal preconceptional and periconceptional use of folic acid supplementation," according to June 12 Federal Register notice. Applicants must be "well-established national, nonprofit organizations" with health education experience, CDC notes. Applications are due July 10; funds will be available Sept. 1. Separately, March of Dimes reports "almost 70 % of American women of childbearing age fail to take the B vitamin folic acid every day." Gallup phone survey of 2,004 women ages 18-45 reveals only 31% of women take multivitamin with folic acid, up slightly from 1995...