biostudies-literatureLi MNational Key Research and Development Program of China475https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7439679biostudies-literatureUnknown20(1)<h4>Background</h4>Birth defects are the main cause of fetal death, infant mortality and morbidity worldwide. However, the etiology of birth defects remains largely unknown. Maternal folate status during periconception plays an important role in organogenesis and folic acid supplement reduces the risk of neural tube defects, congenital heart diseases, and several other birth defects. This trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of folate-oriented tertiary interventions during periconception on the incidence of fetus and birth defects.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a single-blind, two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in Shanghai, China. Eligible women from 22 clusters are recruited at pre-pregnancy physical examinations clinical settings. Compared to the routine perinatal care group (contBMC pregnancy and childbirthEffectiveness of community-based folate-oriented tertiary interventions on incidence of fetus and birth defects: a protocol for a single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial.PMC74396792016YFC1000506Jiang YSheng WDou YZhang YHuang GWang DMa XChen XLi MYan WJi MfalseEffectiveness of community-based folate-oriented tertiary interventions on incidence of fetus and birth defects: a protocol for a single-blind cluster randomized controlled trial.<h4>Background</h4>Birth defects are the main cause of fetal death, infant mortality and morbidity worldwide. However, the etiology of birth defects remains largely unknown. Maternal folate status during periconception plays an important role in organogenesis and folic acid supplement reduces the risk of neural tube defects, congenital heart diseases, and several other birth defects. This trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of folate-oriented tertiary interventions during periconception on the incidence of fetus and birth defects.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a single-blind, two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial in Shanghai, China. Eligible women from 22 clusters are recruited at pre-pregnancy physical examinations clinical settings. Compared to the routine perinatal care group (cont2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 Aug2026-05-08T15:16:45.08Z2020-08-29T07:27:40ZS-EPMC74396793281931210.1186/s12884-020-03154-w