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Methods |
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Introduction
Methods
Case Definition
Stillbirths
Research Projects & Publication
Resources
6th Annual Meeting |
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tracking system covers the five central counties in the metropolitan Atlanta
area: Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett. Metropolitan Atlanta has an
estimated population of 2.9 million and an estimated 50,000 births per year. The
population has changed with the growth of Atlanta since the beginning of the
study. Atlanta has become more urban and the racial and ethnic make-up has
changed over time. Since MACDP began tracking birth defects in Atlanta, the
percentage of births to non-whites has risen from 27% to 48%.
The key to the success of MACDP has been its many case sources. A passive
tracking system, which relies on voluntary reporting, would miss many birth
defects. The specially trained MACDP staff, on the other hand, visits hospitals
and clinics throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area to make certain that all
births affected by a birth defect are included. MACDP also links with other
databases such as birth and death certificates and genetic laboratories. Data
linkage among the various databases broadens the information, improves
ascertainment, helps prevent counting the same baby with a birth defect twice,
and improves the overall quality of the data. |
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Date:
March 11, 2009
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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