BACKGROUND: April is Minority Health Month, a designated time to draw attention to the health disparities facing Arizona’s residents. One such health disparity in Arizona is that young Latina women run high risk of a pregnancy affected by neural tube defects (NTDs).  In fact, the risk is 1.5 to 3.0 times higher among Hispanic women than non-Hispanic white women.  Among all women, Latinas have the highest risk of NTD-affected pregnancies. 

WHO: The Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Health Disparities Center (AHDC) has developed a campaign to inform Latinas of childbearing age about the importance of consuming a daily multivitamin containing at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Research shows that consuming folic acid may help reduce up to 70% of all neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. The campaign includes a public service announcement (PSA) to promote daily multivitamin use among women of childbearing years.

WHAT: AHDC requests media outlets play the enclosed PSA during the month of April in recognition of Minority Health Month. The PSA invites viewers and listeners to visit the campaign’s bilingual website Take <ultivitamins.com where education on multivitamins and related health topics can be found.

WHEN: Minority Health Month - April 2009

WHERE: Take Multivitamins will have information on Arizona health events open to the public during the month of April. The website offers information on multivitamins, folic acid, and related health topics in English and Spanish.