HAWAI`I BIRTH DEFECTS PROGRAM DATA REPORT

Report Contents

This 140 page report contains a Table of Contents, Narrative Introduction, Figures, Tables, and Time Trend Graphics for the 100 most frequently found birth defect diagnoses.

Diagnoses Reported

In its surveillance activities, the HBDP picks up 1,154 different specified diagnoses (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]), relating to the brain and nervous system, the eye, ear, face and neck, cardiac and circulatory, respiratory, orofacial and gastrointestinal, genital and urinary, limb and musculoskeletal, skin and integument systems. The Program also collects data on specific chromosomal and other syndromes, pediatric neoplasms (cancers), congenital infections, and maternal substance abuse. While only the top 100 diagnoses are reported, information on the others can be secured by contacting the Program.

Diagnoses Not Covered by the HBDP

Other areas/disciplines that have their own surveillance systems (cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, pediatric AIDS, developmental disabilities, autism, rarer syndromes, etc.) are not collected by the HBDP. The HBDP also does not collect information on disabilities that are generally associated with preterm delivery or birth trauma such as cerebral palsy.

Understanding How the Data are Reported

One really important thing to understand before you begin using the data is the difference between a "raw number" and a "rate per 10,000 births". Raw numbers have limited value unless they can be compared to other data for statistical purposes. Therefore, to compensate for variations in population, a "rate per 10,000 births" is used to compensate for these difference in population size.

For example, when you look at raw numbers for birth defects by county, it looks like babies born on Oahu have a 75% higher chance of having a birth defect. But when you compensate for the differences in total island population size, you bring all data to the same level to review for differences. A rate is calculated by dividing the numerator (# of birth defects on a specific island) by the denominator (total number of births on that particular island).

Important Take Away Piece of Information

"Rates per 10,000 births" should always be used when analyzing data.

FILES TO DOWNLOAD

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  DATA BOOK - 1986-2002
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