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Birth Defects in Washington
State
The Washington State Birth Defects Surveillance
System was an active surveillance system from 1986 through
1991. Since then, the system has been passive, relying on
hospitals to report cases of children with birth defects.
Currently, an enhancement project is in progress to develop a
web based, electronic reporting system to reduce the reporting
burden to hospitals. Washington State has around 80,000 live
births every year with an estimated 2,400 to 3,200 children
diagnosed with birth defects based on annual prevalence
proportion of 2-4 per 100 live births per year. According to
Washington State Vital Statistics 92 of 423 deaths to children
under one year of age occurred among children with birth
defects in 2000.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- Register the occurrence of selected birth defects
throughout the state.
- Prepare summary statistics to indicate the magnitude and
trends over time.
- Monitor emerging or unusually high occurrences of birth
defects.
- Plan and implement preventive strategies to prevent
selected birth defects such as, neural tube defects.
- Evaluate prevention strategies.
- Inform and educate the public, and make valid data
available to policy makers.
Reporting Requirements
In August 2000, the Washington State Board of Health
approved a revised list of congenital abnormalities notifiable
by law to public health authorities under Chapter 246-101 of the
Washington Administrative Code. Among these were 9 birth defects
and 3 developmental conditions.
Hospitals are required to report: anencephaly, spina bifida,
cleft palate, cleft lip / palate, omphalocele, gastroschisis,
limb reduction defects, hypospadias, and down syndrome, on a
monthly basis to the Washington State Birth Defects
Surveillance Program.
Autism,
alcohol related birth defects, and cerebral palsy are also
notifiable, but are on hold as they require different
reporting procedures to be developed after the implementation
of web based electronic reporting from hospitals has been
completed.
Local Health
Jurisdictions are asked to assist in educating health care
providers regarding reporting requirement to the state.
Last
guideline update
Oct. 2002 |
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