Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104314

Elizabeth T. Jensen¹, Lori Reeves, MPH¹, and Gail C. Rampersaud, MS, RD, LDN². (1) Florida Chapter, March of Dimes, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-13, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-245-4465, elizabeth_jensen@doh.state.fl.us, (2) Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110720, Gainesville, FL 32611-0720

Objective: Provide multivitamin supplements and pre/interconceptional health education to underserved women of childbearing age.

Background: If all women of childbearing age took 400 mcg of folic acid daily, before and during early pregnancy, the number of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord could be reduced by up to 70%. The percent of U.S. women who report taking a multivitamin has only increased from 28% in 1995 to 40% in 2004. Additionally, analysis of Florida's PPOR data identifies pre/interconceptional care as a gap in the array of service provided to women to reduce infant mortality rates.

Project: The March of Dimes Florida Chapter, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Birth Defects Registry, is implementing a three-year initiative to further pre/interconceptional health education and multivitamin use. The effort is supported by grant funding from the Florida State Attorney General's Office.

The project distributes more than 150,000 bottles of free vitamins annually through over 125 sites statewide. In addition, the project includes a public education component and a media campaign.

Lessons Learned: The presentation will include best practices for coordinating vitamin distribution over a large geographic region and evaluation of the impact of this effort on folic acid awareness and behavior change.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify barriers to multivitamin use.
• Discuss effective strategies for implementing a statewide distribution campaign.
• Analyze the impact of the availability of free vitamins on usage.

Keywords: Vitamins, Barriers to Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.