The technical guidelines in this document consist of a series of chapters covering the fundamental aspects of developing, planning, implementing, and conducting surveillance for birth defects and using the resulting data. They provide a way of improving the quality of birth defects surveillance data, which in turn enhances their use.
The Guidelines will be updated and revised over time. Whenever a revision is published, a revision date will appear in the chapter header to distinguish that page or pages from previous versions.
Title, Reference, and Acknowledgements
At a Glance
- NBDPN Birth Defects Surveillance Program Activities at a Glance
- NBDPN Recommendations at a Glance
- NBDPN Standards at a Glance
Chapter 1: Establishing and Maintaining a Birth Defects Surveillance Program
- Appendix 1A: Examples of Authorizing Language for Birth Defects Surveillance
- Appendix 1B: Summary of Key Protocols and Policies for Birth Defects Surveillance Programs
- Appendix 3A: Data Elements for Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance
- Appendix 3B: Considerations for Data Elements
Chapter 4: Health Information Classification Systems and Coding
Chapter 5: Case Ascertainment Methods
- Appendix 5A: Data and Information Sources for Case Ascertainment
- Appendix 5B: Criteria for Evaluating a Data or Information Source
The following chapters are in progress for the updated edition of NBDPN Guidelines for Conducting Birth Defects Surveillance. Please refer to the June 2004 edition of the Guidelines (linked below) in the interim for related content.
Chapter 6: Quality Assurance
- Refer to June 2004 edition: Chapter 7 – Data Quality Management
Chapter 7: Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Refer to June 2004 edition: Chapter 8 – Statistical Methods
Chapter 8: Health Services and Outreach
- Refer to June 2004 edition: Chapter 10 – Data Collaboration and Dissemination Through the NBDPN
