State-Based Tracking Systems
Oklahoma

Program: Oklahoma Birth Defects Registry (OBDR)
Organization: Oklahoma State Department of Health
Projected Period: February 2010–January 2015
Project Director: Kay A. Pearson, MS
Website: http://www.ok.gov/health/Child_and_Family_Health/Screening,_
and_Special_Services/Oklahoma_Birth_Defects_Registry_/index.html

The Oklahoma Birth Defects Registry (OBDR) was created in 1994 to track babies born with birth defects in Oklahoma. The registry monitors about 55,000 births per year in the state. OBDR is a statewide active case finding system that collects information from multiple sources on babies born with birth defects up to two years of age. It uses information on current birth defect cases to guide educational, prevention, and referral efforts.

 

Grantee Goals and Activities

Surveillance

• Improve the quality of data collection and analysis.
• Use geographical coding methods to identify birth defects distribution in Oklahoma.
• Disseminate birth defects information through web based tools.

Prevention

• Expand preconception care and prevention activities for neural tube defects to county health departments.
• Partner with state agencies to develop effective educational methods for health professionals on folic acid.
• Focus folic acid education on Native Americans, Hispanics, and women of child bearing age.

Referrals

• Coordinate support services received by families and children living with birth defects.
• Develop a pilot referral process for pregnancies diagnosed before birth through partnership with a private health specialist.
• Evaluate referral process effectiveness to identify family satisfaction on outcomes and services received.