What is Spina Bifida: Facts About Spina Bifida

According to the Spina Bifida Association of America, Spina Bifida is “the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States” (Spina Bifida Association of America, 2008). If you’re not familiar with the term, you may be wondering, what is Spina Bifida and how does it affect the human body. This neural tube defect is one that occurs due to a failure of the spinal column to close or develop when a fetus is developing inside the womb. Depending on the severity of the defect, Spina Bifida can lead to a wide range of effects on the muscles, nerves, and body systems (SBAA “Mission Statement”).

What is Spina Bifida: Frequency of Occurrence

Spina Bifida is a very common birth defect, occurring in seven out of 10,000 live births in the United States alone. While the National Center for Health Statistics indicates that the rate of incidence for Spina Bifida has dropped in recent years, this report may not be accurate. Spina Bifida is not always reported on birth certificates and some pregnancies involving a fetus with Spina Bifida may be voluntarily terminated or miscarried, so these numbers may not reflect the true number of Spina Bifida cases in America (SBAA “How Often Does Spina Bifida Occur?”)

What is Spina Bifida: People Living with Spina Bifida

According to the SBA Professional Advisory Council, at least 70,000 people are living with Spina Bifida in the United States. This is a very conservative estimate, so the number of people living with Spina Bifida may be higher. Because some cases of Spina Bifida occulta are never discovered and reported, this number may in fact be much higher (SBAA “How Many People with Spina Bifida are There in the United States?”).

What is Spina Bifida: Ethnic Risk Profiles

If you’re wondering, what is Spina Bifida, you may also be wondering about who is more susceptible to Spina Bifida. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Hispanics have the highest risk of Spina Bifida. Caucasians and American Indians have the next highest risk, with black and Asian groups having the lowest risk for Spina Bifida (SBAA “Are Certain Ethnic Groups More Likely to Have Spina Bifida?”).

What is Spina Bifida: Reference Materials

The following references were consulted during the preparation of this article on Spina Bifida. Refer to these resources if you have an interest in learning more about this birth defect.

Spina Bifida Association of America. “Mission Statement.” Published 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Available: Spina Bifida Association Mission Statement

Spina Bifida Association of America. Frequently Asked Questions About Spina Bifida. “How Often Does Spina Bifida Occur?” Published 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Available: Spina Bifida Association: How Often Does Spina Bifida Occur?

Spina Bifida Association of America. Frequently Asked Questions About Spina Bifida. “How Many People with Spina Bifida are There in the United States?” Published 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Available: Spina Bifida Association: How Many People with Spina Bifida are There in the United States?

Spina Bifida Association of America. Frequently Asked Questions About Spina Bifida. “Are Certain Ethnic Groups More Likely to Have Spina Bifida?” Published 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Available: Spina Bifida Association: Are Certain Ethnic Groups More Likely to Have Spina Bifida?