Spina Bifida Remains India’s Most Neglected Preventable Birth Defect

A distraught young mother from Jharkhand recently sought help for her seven-month-old baby born with a large lump on his back and paralysis of both legs. Despite repeated medical visits, she was never told the name of the condition, its causes, or that treatment and prevention were possible. Her child was born with Spina Bifida — the most common birth defect in India — yet neither diagnosis nor guidance reached the family in time.

Understanding Spina Bifida and Its Impact

Spina Bifida is a congenital defect of the spinal cord that leads to varying degrees of paralysis in children. In India, more than 25,000 children are born with this condition every year, placing the country among those with the highest global prevalence. Paralysis may range from mild weakness in the feet to complete loss of movement from the hips downward, often making children wheelchair-dependent from early life. Many also suffer from hydrocephalus, urinary and bowel incontinence, and orthopaedic deformities such as clubfoot.

Medical Potential Versus Ground Reality

Crucially, Spina Bifida does not affect intelligence. With access to timely medical and surgical care, children can grow into independent, productive adults. However, in India, more than 75% of affected children are unable to access specialised care. This gap turns a manageable medical condition into a lifelong socio-economic burden for families and communities.

A Preventable Tragedy Ignored

What makes the situation particularly alarming is that Spina Bifida is largely preventable. Since 1991, research published in “The Lancet” following the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study has established that pre-conceptional intake of folic acid can prevent over 70% of cases. Yet, three decades later, India has failed to launch sustained national or state-level awareness campaigns on this simple, low-cost intervention.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Spina Bifida is the most common birth defect in India.
• Pre-conceptional folic acid intake can prevent over 70% of cases.
• India’s prevalence rate is about 4 per 1,000 births.
• Many countries mandate folic acid food fortification by law.

Global Lessons and the Way Forward

Globally, 68 countries have mandated folic acid fortification of food items, reducing Spina Bifida prevalence to below 1 per 1,000 births. In contrast, India has yet to adopt such measures. Ongoing research, including studies on fortifying commonly consumed items like salt and tea, shows promise. Experts, including Vijaya Kancherla of Emory University, stress that prevention is far more cost-effective than lifelong treatment and rehabilitation. Without urgent national awareness campaigns and food fortification policies, Spina Bifida will continue to cause avoidable disability and distress in India.