Birth defects are estimated to affect more than 120,000 children in the United States every year. An infant may be born with a birth defect caused by a problem in his or her chromosomes, metabolism, formation of external body parts (such as limbs) or internal organs, or all three.
To better understand the impact of birth defects, the California Environmental Health Tracking Program (CEHTP) portal contains data and information to help track 12 different birth defects in California.
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Make your own maps, tables, and charts with the Birth Defects Data Query |
Additional information about birth defects is provided in the links below. Select a topic or use the left side bar to navigate.
- What are Birth Defects: Birth defects are estimated to affect more than 120,000 children in the United States every year. Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant deaths...more
- Types of Birth Defects: A baby may be born with a birth defect caused by a problem in his or her chromosomes, metabolism, formation of external body parts or internal organs, or all three...more
- Who is at Risk: Most birth defects result from a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. For many birth defects, it is unclear how these factors work together...more
- Prevention and Treatment: While not all birth defects can be prevented, women can take some actions to increase their chances of having a healthy infant...more
- Birth Defects and the Environment: The causes of the majority of birth defects are unknown. It is often challenging to find a link between specific environmental exposures and birth defects...more
- How Are They Measured: To understand how often birth defects happen in a population, it is important to monitor the occurence of birth defects at the time of birth...more
- Where to Find Data: CEHTP has data and information for 12 birth defects. Our data query tool allows you to create your own tables, charts, and maps...more
- Birth Defects Resources
- Metadata/Data FAQs