January is Birth Defects Prevention Month!
Image from www.cdc.gov
Healthy Hearts from the Start 2012-- January is Birth Defects Prevention Month. This year the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is focusing on helping health professionals and the public take positive steps to reduce the risks of congenital heart defects (CHDs). Because many CHDs are not preventable, the focus will also include supporting families who are dealing with the realities of a child born with one of these conditions.
Heart defects make up about half of all birth defects occurring annually in Minnesota. There are seven specific heart conditions, known collectively as Critical Congenital Heart Defects (CCHDs), that put babies at significant risk for death or disability if not found soon after birth. A test known as pulse oximetry can help identify infants with a CCHD before they show signs of having a CCHD. Once identified, babies with a CCHD can be seen by cardiologists and receive specialized care and treatment that could prevent death or disability early in life.
Activities and Resources:
- National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) Prevention Packet http://www.nbdpn.org/bdpm2012.php
- Minnesota Press Release: http://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2012/birthdefects010612.html
- Article in Hutchinson Leader: http://hutchinsonleader.com/view/full_story/17010548/article-Prevention-of-congenital-heart-defects-promoted?instance=article_results
- Rochester Metro ABC News: http://rochester.kaaltv.com/news/health/52808-healthy-heart-awareness-part-monthlong-campaign
- Alexandria Echo Press: http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/91086/group/Opinion/
- Minnesota Proclamation for Birth Defects Prevention Month by Governor Dayton: http://mn.gov/governor/images/Birth_Defects_Prevention_Month.pdf (PDF)
- Feature on MDH homepage: http://www.health.state.mn.us/index.html
- MDH Twitter “Ask the Expert” Chats: COMING SOON
- CDC Webinar Social Marketing and Preconception Health 1/10/12, 12pm CST:
- As part of National Folic Acid Awareness Week (January 8-14) and Birth Defects Prevention Month, Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities will present a Webinar: “Overview of a National Social Marketing Plan for Preconception Health and Health Care.” Scheduled for January 10th from 1-2pm EST (12-1pm CST) the session will discuss the activities of the National Preconception Health Consumer Work Group and the use of social marketing as a vehicle for action, in addition to highlighting the status of the Workgroup’s social marketing plan activities. To join the Webinar, go to https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/cdc/join and include the following information: Meeting id - 5JRC4G; Toll Free / Freephone: USA 877-806-0664; Participant Passcode:4304022. Please note that this link will not be active until the day of the Webinar. For questions, contact Alina Flores at ail5@cdc.gov.
Additional Resources:
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, January 6, 2012: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6051a6.htm?s_cid=mm6051a6_e%0d%0a
- CDC NCBDDD Birth Defects: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/index.html
- CDC Heart Defect Feature 2012: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HeartDefects/
- CDC Feature 2011: Birth Defects- Leading Cause of Infant Death: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsInfantDeaths/
- CDC Podcasts:
- Folic Acid: Helping to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy. (English or Spanish)
- Ten Tips to Prevent Infections during Pregnancy. (English or Spanish)
- Put Down That Drink if You Are Pregnant (or Trying to Be)! (English or Spanish)
- If You're Pregnant, Don't Smoke. (English or Spanish)
- National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN): http://www.nbdpn.org/
- March of Dimes Minnesota Chapter: http://www.marchofdimes.com/minnesota
- March of Dimes: http://www.marchofdimes.com/
- Congenital Heart Information Network: http://www.tchin.org/aware/index.htm
An effort of the Birth Defects Monitoring and Analysis Program at MDH, www.health.state.mn.us/birthdefects,
with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Spotlight
- Announcing Request for Proposals
- January is Birth Defects Prevention Month!
- January Awareness Topics
- CDC Preconception Webinar 1/10/12 12pmCST
- Training Dates for LPH
- ECHO's New Program "Prenatal Health"
- CDC Pregnancy Health Texts
- 2009 Annual Report Now Avaliable
- "Folic Acid" DVD in Seven Languages
- MN Public Health Data Access
