The effectiveness of the changes in the current policies toward a health awareness campaign for women’s health education, birth control options, and the increase in folic-acid-rich food availability for pregnant women is likely to be quite high. However, due to the need for numerous resources, particularly, birth control options and education materials, strategies for reducing costs must be provided.
In turn, each of the proposed courses of action has its unique tradeoffs. For example, the awareness campaign, while being quite expensive due to the use of modern media, will allow encompassing a broad audience. Similarly, the introduction of birth control will require major efforts in addressing the current legal obstacles, yet it will lead to a drop in the number of pregnancies that may result in the birth of children with severe health defects (Turner, 2018). Finally, the increase in the range of folic-acid-rich food for pregnant women will put greater pressure on food companies, while also benefitting a range of women and infants.
The suggested solution may have its opponents and supporters, the latter likely including religious people and organizations. Particularly, the issue of birth control and the availability of abortions is likely to encounter strong opposition from the specified party. However, the rest of the community is likely to support the initiative due to its positive effects.
Still, since protests may lead to the prohibition of some of the suggested measures, such as birth control the specified issue matters significantly. It is also important to remember that there is no single best option and that all of these strategies must be implemented as a single measure to maximize the effect of the intervention. Thus, the threat of birth defects will be minimized substantially.
Reference
Turner, M. J. (2018). Neural tube defects and folic acid food fortification in Europe. American Journal of Public Health, 108(5), 601-602.