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What is Spina Bifida?

What is spina bifida?

Spina bifida is a congenital abnormality of the spine and spinal cord. The spinal cord is the nervous system that connects the body to the brain. In spina bifida, the spine is not completely closed, leaving the spinal cord and nerves exposed. This can lead to several problems, such as:

  • paralysis of the legs
  • incontinence of urine and feces
  • problems with brain development
  • hydrocephalus

 

When does spina bifida occur?

Spina bifida occurs in the first few weeks of pregnancy, when the spine and spinal cord are forming. The cause of spina bifida is not fully understood, but there are a number of factors that can increase the risk, including:

  • a lack of folic acid
  • smoking during pregnancy
  • certain medications

 

The difference between the Netherlands and Peru

In the Netherlands, spina bifida is less common than in Peru. This is probably because in the Netherlands, most women take folic acid during pregnancy. Folic acid is a vitamin that can reduce the risk of spina bifida.

In Peru, many women do not take folic acid during pregnancy. This is because folic acid is not always available in Peru, or women do not know about it or do not consider it important. As a result, spina bifida is much more common in Peru than in the Netherlands. In Peru, there is also little or no prenatal testing and abortion is not permitted.

  • The Netherlands: In the Netherlands, approximately 50 children are born with spina bifida each year.
  • Peru: In Peru, approximately 1.500 children with spina bifida are born each year.

This means that the number of births with spina bifida in Peru is approximately 30 times as high as in the Netherlands. This difference is probably due to the differences in folic acid consumption during pregnancy. In the Netherlands, many women take folic acid during pregnancy, while in Peru this is much less common. Folic acid is a vitamin that can reduce the risk of spina bifida.