State-Based Tracking Systems
Michigan

Program: Michigan Birth Defects Registry (MBDR)
Organization: Michigan Department of Community Health
Project Period: February 2010–January 2015
Project Director: Janice Bach, MS
Website: http://www.mdch.state.mi.us/pha/osr/Index.asp?Id=7&MainFile=MainBxDft.htm&BookMark=

The Michigan Birth Defects Registry (MBDR) is a statewide tracking system that was created in 1992 to better understand the causes and types of birth defects in Michigan. The data collected is used to guide intervention strategies to reduce the burden on families and children born with birth defects. MBDR monitors about 126,000 births per year in the state. The system relies on hospital reporting to identify babies born with birth defects up to two years after delivery.

 

Grantee Goals and Activities

Surveillance

• Develop data quality tools to better access electronic health records.  
• Work with research agencies to provide accurate birth defects information.
• Communicate summarized reports of birth defects data to partners and families in the state.

Prevention

• Work with local and state agencies on culturally appropriate birth defects prevention efforts for Arab-American families.
• Develop prevention activities to target at-risk women, including those with a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect or those at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

Referrals

• Use birth defects data to refer babies born with a neural tube defect to local and state programs and services.
• Assist health care centers with referral activities in Michigan by providing them with materials about resources and services for babies and children with birth defects.