State-Based Tracking Systems
Louisiana

Program: Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network (LBDMN)
Organization: Louisiana Office of Public Health
Project Period: February 2010–January 2015
Project Director: Joseph Hicks, MD
Website: http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=261

The Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network (LBDMN) is a population-based system that was created in 2005. LBDMN actively collects information from multiples sources to track babies born with birth defects up to three years old in the state. LBDMN currently monitors about 51,000 births per year. The current system tracks nearly 80% of the state births and will expand its system over the next 5 years to cover all births in Louisiana.

 

Grantee Goals and Activities

Surveillance

• Monitor all major birth defects in 44 parishes.
• Improve the program’s capacity to analyze and use the tracking data.
• Develop a web-based system to improve the program’s capacity.
• Evaluate the data collection process to ensure accuracy and completeness of the data.
• Disseminate data on birth defects occurrence through reports and through their website.

Prevention

• Increase awareness of folic acid benefits in preventing birth defects among childbearing-aged women in the state.
• Provide support services to other agencies promoting birth defects prevention activities.

Referrals

• Offer community resources to guide families and children affected by birth defects related disability.
• Increase awareness and improve access to available early intervention programs and health services.
• Evaluate referral process and activities.