DPH Celebrates Folic Acid Awareness Week in South Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sept. 14, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster signed a proclamation designating Sept. 13–19, 2026, as Folic Acid Awareness Week in South Carolina, underscoring the vital role of folic acid in reducing serious birth defects. In support of this observance, the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is highlighting the benefits of taking folic acid and its role in improving outcomes for infants.  

Why Folic Acid Matters

Every year, about 1 in 33 babies born in the United States has a birth defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Folic acid is a man-made form of folate, a B vitamin essential for making new cells such as blood, skin, hair and brain cells. It is especially important in the early stages of pregnancy when the baby’s brain and spine are forming.

Neural tube defects (NTDs), including spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele, are among the most-serious birth defects. They can occur very early in pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant.

Healthcare providers advise all women who can get pregnant to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. This can be achieved by:

• Taking a daily multivitamin with folic acid
• Eating foods with added folic acid, such as certain cereals, breads, and grains 

“Even if you are not trying to get pregnant, folic acid supports overall health by helping your body make new cells,” said Heather Blackwell, Director of DPH’s Population Health Surveillance Section that oversees the agency’s Birth Defects Program. “Starting this habit now can improve future health outcomes.”

South Carolina’s Progress

In 1991, South Carolina had one of the highest rates of NTDs in the country. Since then, increased folic acid intake has reduced the rate by 60%, meaning 70 more babies are born healthy each year — babies who, 30 years ago, might have been born with a serious, sometimes life-threatening birth defect.

DPH’s Birth Defects Program and the Greenwood Genetics Center provide resources for families with a history of birth defects or those newly diagnosed. The department urges all women who can get pregnant to start taking folic acid daily and to share this information with others.

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