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March of Dimes Calls for Expansion of State Birth Defects Monitoring
Washington, DC, February 20, 2002—The March of Dimes reiterated today, that each year in the United States, an estimated 150,000 babies are born with birth defects—the leading cause of death in the first year of life. Babies who survive are more likely to have a lifelong physical or mental disability. In addition to the emotional cost, the lifetime economic costs of caring for infants born in a single year with a serious birth defect have been estimated at $8 billion.
"State surveillance programs are a key step in the search for causes of these birth defects. Recognizing this, the March of Dimes is working at both the state and federal levels to improve existing surveillance systems and create new programs where none exist," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "March of Dimes advocacy resulted in the enactment of the Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1998 and the Children's Health Act of 2000, two laws that established the federal support structure for birth defects surveillance."
The new National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports eight regional centers that conduct research on birth defects. The Center also funds 28 cooperative agreements with states through which surveillance systems have been established or expanded.
"The federal commitment to birth defects prevention is to support states in creating and improving birth defects surveillance systems," said Dr. Howse. The state report cards in the Trust for America's Health report Birth Defects Tracking and Prevention: Too Many States Are Not Making the Grade will be a helpful advocacy tool for March of Dimes volunteers and staff. These report cards provide a snapshot of ongoing activity in individual states. For example, the report cards tell us whether data are collected statewide or only in a few counties, the number of birth defects being monitored, and provide information about whether states use the data collected to help link families to treatment when infants are born with a birth defect."
"The causes of about two-thirds of birth defects are currently unknown," stated Dr. Howse. "Detection and reporting of birth defects should not be left to chance. Birth defects surveillance is critical to developing prevention strategies."
Contact: Christina Manero, (202) 261-7582
Matthew Rhodes, (202) 659-1800
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