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Birth Defects
Birth Defects Home > Tracking
Tracking Birth Defects


CDC believes that it is important to have a system to track birth defects to see when and where they happen. CDC uses different systems to look for changes and then tells the public about these trends. We base our research studies, for example causes of certain birth defects, on what we learn from tracking. In addition, our systems guide how we plan and evaluate ways to prevent birth defects.

CDC is driven by our vision—to promote optimal health and development for all children. More specifically, we work to prevent or reduce the adverse consequences of birth defects. We have several major systems that track birth defects in the United States. CDC also partners with other groups in the U.S. and the world to share information and to work on projects that will help prevent birth defects throughout the world.


The Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP)
CDC has been tracking birth defects closely for over 40 years. Established in 1967, MACDP is a population-based surveillance system for birth defects that was established in 1967 by the CDC, Emory University, and the Georgia Mental Health Institute

Photo of infant foot

State Birth Defects Surveillance Systems
CDC guides and fund states to set up and improve their systems to track birth defects.

National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN)
CDC supports the mission of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN). The mission of the NBDPN is to establish and maintain a national network of state and population-based programs for birth defects.

International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems (ICBDMS)
CDC supports and collaborates with the ICBDMS as a way to gain knowledge and expertise on birth defects information worldwide and to further our goals and those of the international community.

The Health and Environment Linked for Information Exchange (HELIX-Atlanta)
CDC supports and collaborates with the Health and Environment Linked for Information Exchange (HELIX-Atlanta). HELIX is a local level project of environmental public health tracking. The HELIX-Atlanta birth defect team works to develop strategies to be used in environmental public health tracking by state birth defects programs
 

Date: January 03, 2008
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

 

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