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Birth Defect: National Birth Defect
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Birth defects have been present in babies from all over the world, in families of all nationalities and backgrounds. Anytime a couple becomes pregnant, there is a chance that their baby will have a birth defect. Most babies are born healthy. In fact, 97 out of 100 babies are born healthy. Anytime a couple becomes pregnant, there is a 3 to 4 percent chance that their baby will have a birth defect. The 3 to 4 percent number is sometimes called the background rate for birth defects, or the population risk for birth defects.
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Couples who have had a baby with a birth defect, or who have a family history of birth defects, should consider consulting a genetic counselor. These health professionals help families understand what is known about the causes of a birth defect, and the chances of the birth defect recurring in another pregnancy. Genetic counselors can provide referrals to medical experts as well as to appropriate support groups in the community. The National Society of Genetic Counselors provides the names and contact information of genetic counselors.
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China has the largest population in the world and ... has the highest incidence of birth defect, with national level at its highest in Shanxi Province. The monitoring data from 1996 showed the national birth defect rate of newborns was 99.62 per ten thousand. In Shanxi, however, the rate was 189.86 per ten thousand on average, and 39 counties had a higher rate of 200-400 per ten thousand and 13 counties had the highest rate of 400 per ten thousand.
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The study results, published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), calculated national estimates for 18 specific major birth defects between 1999 and 2001. Previous estimates had indicated that 3 percent of all births are affected by a birth defect. However, this is the first time national population-based estimates for specific defects, other than neural tube defects, have been calculated.
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A cluster investigation cannot answer parents' questions about why their child was born with a birth defect. Causes can only be identified through large case-control interview studies, like the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.
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The 18 major birth defects studied included certain cardiovascular system defects, as well as limb defects, defects of the intestine and bowel, the eye, and chromosomal defects, such as Down syndrome. These were selected for study because they are relatively common, can be identified after birth, and have severe consequences. Ten of the 18 defects affect more than 1,000 infants annually, according to the research titled, "Improved National Prevalence Estimates for 18 Selected Birth Defects -- United States, 1991-2001," and published in MMWR, Vol. 54, Nos. 51 and 52.
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