Table 2.
Annual rates of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Newfoundland and Labrador before folic acid supplementation (1991–1993), prior to folic acid fortification (1994–1997) and after fortification (1998–2001)
Period | No. of cases of NTDs | Total no. of births* | Rate per 1,000 births | ||
In live births and stillbirths | In terminated pregnancies | Total | |||
Pre-supplementation | |||||
1991–1993 | 50 | 40 | 90 | 20,711 | 4.35 |
Pre-fortification | |||||
1994–1997 | 53 | 50 | 103 | 23,592 | 4.37 |
Post-fortification | |||||
1998–2001 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 19,816 | 0.96 |
* The total number of births includes live births, stillbirths and terminations for an NTD.