Florida Birth Defects Registry

From Data to Science to Public Health Action:  The Florida Department of Health’s Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR) is a statewide population-based surveillance program designed to collect, analyze, and disseminate information about infants born with birth defects in Florida. Of the more than 210,000 babies born in Florida each year, 1 in 28 will be diagnosed with a major birth defect before their first birthday. Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant death and contribute to long term morbidity. To learn more about the FBDR, visit our website at www.fbdr.org.

FBDR data are currently being used to support two of the department’s most important health promotion campaigns - Healthiest Weight Florida and Baby Steps. The Healthiest Weight Florida campaign is a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, not for profit organizations, businesses, and entire communities to help Florida’s children and adults make choices about healthy eating and active living. You can learn more about Healthiest Weight Florida at http://www.healthiestweightflorida.com/index.html. The Baby Steps campaign encourages women to plan for a healthy pregnancy by reaching or maintaining a healthy weight, taking a multi-vitamin containing folic acid, and getting regular medical and dental check-ups prior to pregnancy. To learn more about Baby Steps visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/healthy-people-and-families/womens-health/pregnancy/index.html.
 
In 2013, the FBDR published findings from a study designed to analyze the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and birth defect outcomes. Using a population of more than 1 million infants, the study reported that the prevalence of 27 birth defect outcomes increased with increasing maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, ranging from 3.7 per 1,000 live births among normal weight mothers to 5.3 per 1,000 live births for mothers in the highest obesity category. This study shows that efforts to reduce obesity among women who may become pregnant could improve the health of their babies. These same efforts may also help to reduce chronic health conditions related to obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease in all Floridians.

 
The Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR) is a statewide, population-based surveillance system that has identified birth defects in children born in Florida since 1999. The FBDR is operated by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Bureau of Epidemiology.

Birth Defects Monitoring Systems Are Vital
  • For tracking and detecting trends in birth defects
  • For identifying when and where birth defects can possibly be prevented
  • For providing the basis for studies on the causes of birth defects
  • For planning and evaluating the impact of efforts to prevent birth defects
  • For helping Florida's families whose infants and children need appropriate services