Fish consumption prior to pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between maternal fish consumption and pregnancy outcomes in a large, population-based sample of women in the USA.

Design: We collected average fish consumption prior to pregnancy using a modified version of the semi-quantitative Willett FFQ. We estimated adjusted OR (aOR) and 95 % CI for associations between different levels of fish consumption and preterm birth (<37 weeks), early preterm birth (<32 and <35 weeks) and small-for-gestational-age infants (SGA; <10th percentile).

First-time maltreatment in children ages 2-10 with and without specific birth defects: A population-based study.

Children with disabilities are at an increased risk for maltreatment. However, little is known about the risk of maltreatment in children with specific types of birth defects. This study was conducted to determine whether the risk and predictors of maltreatment in children 2 to 10 years of age differ between those without and with specific birth defects: Down syndrome, cleft lip with/without cleft palate, and spina bifida.

Using State Birth Defects Registries to Evaluate Regional Critical Congenital Heart Disease Newborn Screening.

Background: Most states have now passed legislation mandating pulse oximetry for all newborns, or have promulgated regulations or guidelines to encourage use of routine pulse oximetry. State-based birth defects registries may be well positioned to track and evaluate critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening coverage and outcomes. This purpose of this study was to determine: (1) the proportion of cases detected by screening, (2) health services use by children with CCHDs during the first year of life, and (3) mortality outcomes.

Hospitalization charges for children with birth defects in Texas, 2001 to 2010.

Background: State-specific information about hospitalizations of children with birth defects can improve understanding of changes in occurrence, treatment practices, and health care financing policies. This study analyzed aggregated data on hospital charges and length of stay for a large, diverse population.

Methods: We extracted hospitalization data for children diagnosed with birth defects from the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use Data File (2001-2010).

Maltreatment of Children Under Age 2 With Specific Birth Defects: A Population-Based Study.

Background And Objectives: Children with disabilities are at an increased risk for maltreatment. However, the risk of maltreatment is unknown for children with specific types of birth defects. This study was conducted to determine whether the risk and predictors of maltreatment differ between children with and without 3 birth defects: Down syndrome, cleft lip with/without cleft palate, and spina bifida.

Periconceptional Risk Factors for Birth Defects among Younger and Older Teen Mothers.

Study Objectives: We sought to determine whether selected periconceptional health behaviors that influence risk for birth defects differ between older and younger adolescents and whether pregnancy intention predicts more positive preconception health behaviors among teens.

Design And Participants: We analyzed interview responses from 954 adolescent control group participants from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study who delivered live infants during 1997-2007.

Main Outcome Measures: Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for factors of interest by age categories (13-15, 16-17, and 18 years, relative to 19 years).

Preconceptional folic acid-containing supplement use in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Background: Despite public health campaigns encouraging women to take a daily folic acid supplement, the proportion of reproductive age women, in the United States, who comply with this recommendation is less than optimal. The objective of this analysis was to identify predictors of preconceptional folic acid-containing supplement use to define subgroups of women who may benefit from targeted folic acid campaigns.

Methods: This study included 6570 mothers of live born infants from the control population of National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2005).

Birth defects, causal attributions, and ethnicity in the national birth defects prevention study.

In order to translate research findings into effective prevention strategies, it is important to understand people's beliefs about the causes of poor health outcomes. However, with the exception of knowledge and beliefs about folic acid supplementation, little is known regarding women's causal attributions women regarding birth defects. We employed Attribution Theory constructs to analyze open-text interview responses from 2,672 control mothers in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study who gave birth in 1997-2005.

Short interpregnancy interval and gastroschisis risk in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Background: The micronutrient depletion hypothesis proposes that consecutive pregnancies spaced too closely may leave insufficient time for maternal micronutrient replenishment. Short interpregnancy intervals (IPI) have been associated with an increased risk for several adverse pregnancy outcomes, but an association with gastroschisis risk has not been previously explored.

Methods: Within a population-based, case-control study, we evaluated the association between IPI length and gastroschisis risk using multivariable logistic regression models to estimate gastroschisis odds ratios for IPI <12 months and 12 to 17 months relative to those 18 to 23 months.

Prevalence and patterns of choanal atresia and choanal stenosis among pregnancies in Texas, 1999-2004.

Congenital choanal atresia and stenosis (CA/S) are the most common craniofacial abnormalities of the nose. However, little is known about the epidemiology of these conditions. The present study was undertaken to expand our understanding of the epidemiology of CA/S by analyzing data from the Texas Birth Defect Registry (TBDR) for the period 1999-2004.

Methods for developing useful estimates of the costs associated with birth defects.

Background: Cost estimates for birth defects are useful to policy makers in deciding the best use of resources to prevent these conditions. Much of the effort in this area has focused on spina bifida, in part because cost savings can be estimated from folic acid-preventable cases. However, comprehensive cost-of-illness estimates for this condition may be too outdated, too general, or not applicable to individual states' environments.

Public health projects for preventing the recurrence of neural tube defects in the United States.

Background: The recurrence risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) in subsequent pregnancies is approximately 3%, or 40 times the background risk. Prevention projects target these high-risk women to increase their folic acid consumption during the periconceptional period, a behavior which decreases their recurrence risk by at least 85%. This study surveyed birth defect surveillance programs to assess their NTD recurrence prevention activities and to identify components of intervention projects that might be implemented in states with limited resources.

Proximity of pediatric genetic services to children with birth defects in Texas.

Background: Families of children with major structural malformations often benefit greatly from genetic services. However, these services may not be readily available in all areas. The purpose of this study was to use data from a statewide birth defects registry and geographic information system methodology to compare the spatial distribution and to summarize the distance of pediatric clinical genetic service providers in relation to residential addresses of children with selected birth defects in Texas.

Awareness and attitudes regarding prenatal testing among Texas women of childbearing age.

Despite increased visibility and availability of prenatal testing procedures, very little is known about the attitudes among the populace toward these procedures. Using a computer assisted telephone interview of pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age we analyze awareness and attitudes regarding prenatal tests among a diverse group of women of childbearing age in Texas. We also examine maternal characteristics associated with awareness and the willingness to undergo these procedures.

Folic acid supplementation among diabetic, overweight, or obese women of childbearing age.

Objective: To examine whether obese, overweight, or diabetic women were equally likely to supplement with folic acid as normal-weight or nondiabetic women.

Design: Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used to compare folic acid supplementation rates among obese, overweight, or diabetic women to those of normal-weight or nondiabetic women.

Participants: Responses from nonpregnant Texas women of ages 18 to 44 were analyzed.

Folic acid awareness and supplementation among Texas women of childbearing age.

Objective: Neural tube defects (NTDs) affect about seven of every 10,000 deliveries in Texas. To reduce the risk for NTDs, women are encouraged to supplement with 400 mcg folic acid daily during their reproductive years. This study examines folic acid awareness, knowledge, and supplementation practices among women of childbearing age (WCBA), including residents of Texas-Mexico border as well as women of Hispanic origin/ethnicity, populations that have NTD rates up to three times higher than the national average.

Linking teratogen information service and birth defects registry databases to improve knowledge of birth defect status.

Background: Although teratogen information services (TISs) obtain maternal exposure information from their callers, such services often do not know if the pregnancies were affected by a birth defect. This study attempted to improve the completeness of this information for Texas Teratogen Information Service (TTIS) callers by linking their records with the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) and Texas birth certificates (TBCs).

Methods: A total of 344 expectant mothers called TTIS with expected dates of delivery between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001.

Medical records vs. interview responses: a comparative analysis of selected variables for linked birth defect cases.

Background: Data pertaining to birth defects are subject to certain limitations depending on the collection method. This study compares the agreement of data from medical records and maternal interviews.

Methods: The medical records and maternal interviews were linked for 1017 deliveries.