Application of the social ecological model in folic acid public health initiatives.

All women of childbearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 0.4 mg/400 microg of folic acid daily. Folic acid decreases the incidence of neural tube defects in newborns. Despite continued public health initiatives, many women still do not consume the recommended daily requirement. This article analyzes the use of the social ecological model in folic acid public health initiatives and emphasizes assessing the outcomes of such initiatives.