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Spina Bifida
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Living with Spina Bifida

CDC programs and research improve quality of life and encourage full participation at every age for those living with spina bifida.

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Spina bifida is a major birth defect of a person’s spine. With good quality medical care people with spina bifida can reach their full potential. If you have spina bifida, or know someone who does, it’s important to get the facts so that you can make the best possible health care choices.

Spina Bifida: What's New
  • Proposed Data Elements for CDC-RFA-DD-24-0065: Surveillance of Spina Bifida Across the Lifespan
  • New NOFO: grants.gov/search-results-detail/350112
  • Nikia’s Story
  • Randi’s Story

Spina Bifida

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What is Spina Bifida?

Facts, types, causes, & prevention.

Health Issues & Treatments

Types of health issues & their treatments.

Living with Spina Bifida

What to expect from birth to adulthood.

Findings from the Patient Registry

Research from the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry

Data & Statistics

Data and statistics highlights.

Research & Tracking

Prevalence, risk factors, causes, & quality of life.

About the Patient Registry

About the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.

Urologic Protocol

Protecting the kidneys of babies born with spina bifida.

Videos
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Watch videos about living with spina bifida.

Articles & Key Findings
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Scientific articles and research summaries about living with spina bifida.

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Test Your Knowledge
Quiz: What is Spina Bifida?

How much do you know about spina bifida? Take this quiz to find out!

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Free Materials
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View and print fact sheets and other information about spina bifida.

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  • Folic Acid
  • Healthy Pregnancy
  • Birth Defects
  • Birth Defects COUNT
About Us
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Learn about CDC’s work on spina bifida.

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About Us
Woman writing on clipboard sitting at her office

Learn about CDC’s work on spina bifida.

Learn more
Women & Expectant Parents
  • Folic Acid
  • Healthy Pregnancy
  • Birth Defects
  • Birth Defects COUNT
Last Reviewed: March 14, 2024
Source:  National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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