Improving child and family health through primary prevention of neural tube defects.

The neural tube defect, myelomeningocele, is the most complex congenital anomaly that is compatible with normal life, if appropriately treated. Knowledge of evidence-based primary prevention strategies for neural tube defects prevents the greatest number of these conditions from occurring. Primary prevention is key to family health. Only through primary prevention can the following be avoided: (a) the potential emotional trauma brought about by prenatal diagnosis of an affected fetus; (b) the associated decision-making about secondary prevention via selective termination; (c) the physical and emotional stress of the termination procedure, if it is done; and (d) the complex and often devastating problems faced by the child who is born with myelomeningocele and his or her family.