An increase in neural tube defect notifications, South Australia, 2009-2010.

Introduction: In South Australia, reporting of live births, stillbirths of at least 20 weeks or 400 g birth weight, termination of pregnancies and congenital anomalies is mandated. We describe the investigation of an increase in notifications of neural tube defects (NTDs) in South Australia in 2009 and 2010 using data from several surveillance systems.

Methods: NTD trend data from 1966 to 2010 were reviewed.

Folate awareness and the prevalence of neural tube defects in South Australia, 1966-2007.

Objectives: To ascertain changes in: women's knowledge of the role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs); intake of folic acid among pregnant women; and prevalence of NTDs in South Australia.

Design, Setting And Participants: Computer-assisted telephone interviews of South Australian households from 1994 to 2007 over a period encompassing a statewide folate promotion campaign (1994-1995), continuing folate promotion, as well as the introduction of voluntary folate fortification of foods (1996); ascertainment of the total prevalence of NTDs from births and terminations of pregnancy from 1966 to 2007.

Main Outcome Measures: Changes in women's knowledge of the role of folic acid in the prevention of NTDs; changes in the prevalence of NTDs.

Trends in state/population-based Down syndrome screening and invasive prenatal testing with the introduction of first-trimester combined Down syndrome screening, South Australia, 1995-2005.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review trends in the us of maternal serum Down syndrome screening and invasive prenatal testing before and after the introduction of a state-based first-trimester combined Down syndrome screening program.

Study Design: A retrospective population-based study was performed on first- and second-trimester Down syndrome screening, invasive prenatal testing, and prenatal detection of Down syndrome from 1995 to 2005 in South Australia with data from state-based registers. Chi-square tests were used to evaluate trends.

Estimating Australia's abortion rates 1985-2003.

Aim: To estimate national rates of induced abortion in Australia from 1985 to 2003, using Medicare claim statistics for private patients and hospital morbidity statistics for public patients.

Design And Setting: Estimates were based on Australian and South Australian data collections relating to abortions. SA hospital morbidity statistics were compared with SA statutory notifications of abortions to estimate the accuracy of these collections.