DATA
The North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program (NCBDMP) gathers data on infants who are born with serious congenital anomalies (birth defects) diagnosed within the first year of life. Data are collected by trained field staff who systematically review and abstract, or summarize, hospital medical records. These data are supplemented with information from administrative health databases such as hospital discharge data, vital records, Medicaid claims and other sources. This intensive method of case ascertainment provides complete, accurate, and timely data on the incidence of birth defects in the state.
The NCBDMP provides data about birth defects in North Carolina to researchers, health care providers, public health program planners, community organizations, and interested citizens. These data are often used to inform public health prevention and evaluation efforts, provide health education, raise public awareness, support patient advocacy, support health care service referral and delivery, and conduct studies to understand the causes of birth defects so that cases of birth defects can be prevented in the future.
The most commonly requested data about birth defects in North Carolina is found on the North Carolina Health Data Query System, which is a web-based interactive database system that provides customized reports of health data based on demographic variables like age, race and county. You can also find data on pregnancies and births in North Carolina.
On the N.C. Health Data Query System, you can find data about:
Birth Defects, Statewide Totals
Provides birth defect counts for infants who were North Carolina residents at the time of birth classified by the mother's race/ethnicity and year.
Birth Defects by Region
Provides birth defect counts for infants who were North Carolina residents at the time of birth, classified by perinatal care region, mother's race/ethnicity, and year.
Birth Defects by County
Provides birth defect counts for infants who were North Carolina residents at the time of birth, classified by county and year.
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PUBLICATIONS
REPORTS
SELECT PUBLISHED STUDIES
- Parker SE, Mai CT, Strickland MJ, Olney RS, Rickard R, Marengo L, Wang Y, Hashmi S, Meyer RE. Multistate study of the epidemiology of clubfoot. Borth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 2009; 85:897-904.
- Root ED, Meyer RE, Emch ME. Evidence of localized clustering of gastroschisis births in North Carolina, 1999-2004. Social Science and Medicine 2009; 68(8):1361-1367.
- Cassell CH, Daniels J, Meyer RE. Timeliness of cleft surgery among children with orofacial clefts in North Carolina, 1995-2002. The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal 2009; 46(6):588-97.
- Honein MA, Kirby RS, Meyer RE, Xing J, Skerrette NI, Yuskiv N, Marengo L, Petrini JR, Davidoff MJ, Mai CT, Druschel CM, Viner-Brown S, Sever LE. The association between major birth defects and preterm birth. Maternal and Child Health Journal 2009; 13(2):164-75.
- Cassell CH, Meyer RE, Daniels J. Health care expenditures among Medicaid enrolled children with and without orofacial clefts in North Carolina, 1995-2002. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 2008; 82:785-794.
- Boulet SL, Yang Q, Mai C, Kirby RS, Collins JS, Robbins JM, Meyer RE, Canfield MA, Mulinare J. Trends in the post-fortification prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly in the United States. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 2008; 82:527-532.
- Dickinson KC, Meyer RE, Kotch J. Maternal smoking and the risk for club foot in infants. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 2008; 82:86-91.
- Cassell CH, Meyer RE, Farel AM. Predictors of referral to the North Carolina Child Service Coordination Program among infants with orofacial clefts. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal 2007; 44:45-51.
- Mai CT, Law DJ, Mason CA, McDowell BD, Meyer RE, Musa D. Collection, use, and protection of population-based birth defects surveillance data in the United States. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 2007; 79:811-814.
- Meyer RE, Brown AB. Folic acid and birth defects prevention: a public health success story. North Carolina Medical Journal 2004; 65:157-158.
- Farel AM, Meyer RE, Hicken M, Edmonds LD. Registry to referral: using birth defects registries to refer infants and toddlers for early intervention services. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 2003; 67:647-650.
- Laughon M, Meyer RE, Bose C, Wall A, Otero E, Heerens A, Clark R. Rising birth prevalence of gastroschisis. Journal of Perinatology 2003; 23:291-293.
- Farel AM, Meyer RE, Hicken M, Edmonds LD. Registry to referral: a promising means for identifying and referring infants and toddlers for early intervention services. Journal of Infants and Young Children 2003; 16:99-105.
- Meyer RE, Siega-Riz AM. Sociodemographic patterns in spina bifida birth prevalence trends - North Carolina -1995-1999. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002; 51:12-15.
- Meyer RE, Wall A, Morgan AJ, Devine JE, Powers KE. Knowledge and use of folic acid among North Carolina women. North Carolina Medical Journal 2002; 63:18-22.
- Surles K, Buescher P, Meyer R. Infant mortality and low birthweight in North Carolina, the last 10 years. North Carolina Medical Journal 1999; 60:163-168.
OTHER LOCAL STUDIES
- Timeliness of Services During the First Two Years of Life Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children with Orofacial Clefts in North Carolina, 1995-2002. SCHS Study 157, 2008.
- Child Service Coordination Program Coverage for Infants with Spina Bifida. SCHS Statistical Brief 16, 1998.
Full-text copies of select published studies and other local studies are available through the State Center for Health Statistics. Selected publications are provided in pdf format. To view these documents you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer – download the latest version of Adobe free.
Page Last Updated March 09, 2012
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