Birth Defects - Prevalence of Spina Bifida (without Anencephaly) per 10,000 Live Births

Why Is This Important?

Birth defects pose a significant public health problem. One in 33 babies is born with a structural birth defect in the United States. Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality and responsible for considerable morbidity with enormous economic impact.

Definition

Spina bifida is one of a group of birth defects that is associated with failure of the neural tube to close. Specifically, spinal bifida without anencephaly is a core condition that is described as an incomplete closure of the vertebral spine through which spinal cord tissue and/or the membranes covering the spine (meninges) herniate. It usually occurs posteriorly. Spina bifida without anencephaly is characterized by a direct opening that is easily seen at the infant's back upon physical examination at delivery. Prevalence of spina bifida is the number of live-born infants with spina bifida but without anencephaly per 10,000 live-born infants. (Live-born infants are infants born with any evidence of life.) New Mexico live-born infants with spina bifida (without anencephaly), 2015-2019

Data Sources

• Birth Defects Prevention and Surveillance System (BDPASS), New Mexico Department of Health.
• Birth Certificate Data, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS), Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health.
  (https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp/)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Before folic acid fortification, approximately 4,000 pregnancies resulted in 2,500--3,000 births in the United States each year affected by anencephaly or spina bifida.(http://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00019479.htm) During 1996--2001 in the US,

Other Objectives

CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking, Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (EPHT NCDM)