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Puerto
Rico Birth Defects Tracking Program Program
Title: Puerto Rico Folic Acid Campaign and Birth Defects
Surveillance System
Organization: Puerto Rico Department of Health
Project Period: September 2003–June 2008
Project Director: Dr. Maria del C. Rullan
Grant Title: Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance
Programs and the Utilization of Surveillance Data by Public Health
Programs
Project Summary
The Puerto Rico Folic Acid Campaign and Birth
Defects Surveillance System (BDSS) identifies, compiles, analyzes,
and disseminates data about birth defects to help lower their
prevalence in Puerto Rico. The program also works with other
networks to raise awareness of birth defects–related issues in
Puerto Rico, such as early diagnosis, early referral to specialized
health care and habilitation services, and support for affected
families. Through this funding, the program will continue improving
its population-based birth defects surveillance system and expand
the breadth of its prevention efforts.
Project Goals and ActivitiesSurveillance
- Expand the capacity of the birth defects surveillance system
to identify birth defect cases.
- Evaluate the surveillance system.
- Develop legislation that mandates reporting of birth defects
in Puerto Rico to the BDSS.
- Continue to build linkages between the BDSS and Vital
Records.
- Plan and implement a surveillance protocol for maternal risk
factors.
- Promote updated information on new birth defects to be
included in the case definition and the prevention of associated
risk factors.
Prevention
- Continue counseling mothers identified by
the BDSS on recurrence prevention.
- Develop culturally sensitive educational
materials and distribute them among trained collaborators and
the public.
- Educate health professionals in
preconception health to raise awareness of and to prevent birth
defects.
- Expand collaboration among private and
public agencies for BDSS activities.
Referrals
- Develop a comprehensive system for referrals
to the Early Intervention, Children with Special Health Care
Needs (CSHCN), and other programs that offer early services.
- Verbally refer families with babies affected
by birth defects to CSHCN clinics and describe the services
available.
- Tell affected families about genetic
counseling available as a service of the program.
Date:
January 03, 2008
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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