A new study from the University of California, Irvine reveals that women without adequate health insurance are significantly less likely to take recommended amounts of folic acid, a simple intervention that can prevent serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly. Published in the Journal of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, the research analyzed data from over 85,000 women aged 18 to 49 across the United States, using the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program.
The findings indicate that structural barriers, particularly healthcare access and insurance coverage, strongly influence folic acid supplementation rates, often more than birthplace or ethnicity. Among Hispanic participants, factors like age, pregnancy status, education, and insurance were key, with no significant difference between U.S.-born and foreign-born women.
Non-Hispanic Black women were more likely than non-Hispanic White women to report supplement use. The study underscores the need for improved preventive care access, culturally responsive outreach, and fortification initiatives, such as California's 2026 law requiring folic acid fortification in corn masa flour products.
Researchers from the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, and Department of Psychology collaborated on the project, highlighting the value of interdisciplinary approaches to public health disparities.