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Texas Birth Defects Epidemiology & Surveillance
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| Not all birth defects can be prevented, but we are working to find out more about protecting your baby's health. |
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The Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch (BDES) encompasses two major components: the Texas Birth Defects Registry and the Texas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. In order to respond to community concerns about excess occurrence of birth defects, the Texas Birth Defects Registry was established to identify and describe the patterns of birth defects in Texas through operation of an active surveillance system.
BDES was established in 1993 as the result of an unusual cluster of anencephaly cases (a type of neural tube defect) that occurred in Brownsville, Texas. Epidemiologic investigations revealed a higher than expected rate of neural tube defects among children born to Hispanic mothers living in South Texas. In recognition that epidemiologic resources are routinely needed to investigate birth defects clusters, the Texas State Legislature passed the Texas Birth Defects Act in 1993, which authorized the establishment of BDES.
Since 1994, BDES has maintained the Texas Birth Defects Registry, population-based birth defects surveillance system, which is now statewide. Through multiple sources of information, the Registry monitors all births in Texas (approximately 380,000 each year) and identifies cases of birth defects. Children identified through the Registry are referred to appropriate medical and community services.
The Registry employs an active surveillance approach, which entails staff routinely visiting all hospitals and birthing centers where affected children are delivered or treated. Staff review logs to find potential cases, and medical records to identify those indicating one or more birth defects. They then abstract relevant information onto a form designed for this purpose. Information is abstracted from medical records on pregnancies with birth defects delivered to residents of Texas and includes birth defect diagnoses; medical tests and procedures; gestational age; delivery information; illnesses, complications, maternal exposures; demographic information. All information is held in strict confidence in accordance with state and federal privacy laws.
We also collaborate with researchers in finding causes of birth defects, working towards prevention and linking families with services. The CDC-funded Research Center uses Registry data to conduct epidemiologic studies to find the preventable causes of birth defects in Texas.
For more information, contact:
Birth Defects Epidemiology & Surveillance
Texas Department of State Health Services
Mail Code 1964
P.O. Box 149347
Austin 78714-9347
Phone 512-458-7232, 1-888-963-7111
Fax 512-458-7330
Through the efforts of the March of Dimes, Texas Chapter, you can purchase a special Texas License plate to help support birth defects surveillance in the state.
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.
Last Updated September 28, 2009.