Which of the following factors is associated with a decreased incidence of spina bifida?

• A. Maternal vitamins
• B. More accurate prenatal testing
• C. Pregnancy termination
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Preventing neural tube defects involves stopping them before birth, catching them early, and making informed decisions when a flaw is detected. Taking folic acid as a vitamin before conception and in early pregnancy dramatically lowers the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida, because it supports proper early neural tube formation. When prenatal screening is more accurate, doctors can detect spina bifida earlier in pregnancy, giving families and clinicians vital information to plan and respond. If a serious fetal defect is identified, some pregnancies are terminated, which reduces the number of births with spina bifida. Because of these prevention, detection, and decision-making factors, the overall incidence of spina bifida decreases.