| The
Arizona Birth Defects Monitoring Program (ABDMP) is a population-based
surveillance system for the collection, management and analysis of information
on the incidence of birth defects.
Case Definitions
define the criteria needed for inclusion in the Birth
Defects Monitoring Program case file.
Case Finding Process is the strategy used to identify potential cases of infants who
may have a reportable birth defect diagnosed within the first year of
life.
Data Sources are the
various sources from which the ABDMP staff obtain information on birth defect
cases.
| Program History: |
- The Arizona legislature initially provided the
appropriation needed to begin the program in 1986. In 1988 Arizona
Revised Statute §36-133 was passed,
mandating the reporting of birth defects in the whole state.
- The ABDMP is a population-based, state-wide,
active registry of children with a reportable birth defect diagnosed within the
first year. The registry uses multiple sources of data to gather
information on the birth defects cases, and it includes both live-born and
stillborn children born in Arizona to Arizona residents.
- The ABDMP is designed to meet the needs of the
public who demand a systematic surveillance of birth defects, which provide
accurate, complete and timely incidence data for fifteen counties of Arizona,
with approximately 70,000 live births and 400 fetal deaths annually.
- Originally, the ABDMP was collecting over
500 diagnostic codes. However, due to the need to collect and report data
in a more timely manner, beginning in March 1996, the number of reportable
conditions was reduced to 140 diagnostic codes, starting with 1992 data.
- Data is currently available for infants
born in the years 1986 through 1997. The ABDMP staff is currently
abstracting data for 1998 through 2004 births.
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| Goals: |
- To reduce the incidence of
birth defects in Arizona from preventable causes.
- To produce accurate statistics
regarding the occurrence of birth defects in Arizona.
- To identify, report, and
investigate various birth defects trends, high-risk populations, and high risk
locations.
- To provide a resource for
information about the incidence and epidemiology of birth defects for
researchers, health professionals, hospitals, local health agencies, and others
with a valid scientific or public health interest.
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| Objectives: |
- Assure 100% participation by
hospitals and other institutions targeted for the program.
- Operate and maintain a
population-based Birth Defects Registry; evaluate and enhance the system as
needed to meet changing requirements.
- Develop strategies to reduce
and/or prevent birth defects and stillbirths resulting from exposure to
environmental contaminants.
- Develop enhanced research and
analytic capabilities to interpret data and disseminate timely information.
- Provide a service-oriented
surveillance system with sufficient data that can be used in planning health
care services, program development and the subsequent assessment and evaluation
of these programs and services.
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