March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center: Communicating Maternal and Infant Health Information Michael J. Davidoff March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center

Founded 1938: National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis –Today: 52 chapters; 281 divisions; Over 3 million volunteers Mission: –Improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality Advanced through: –Research –Community Service –Consumer/Professional Education –Advocacy Polio to Prematurity March of Dimes 1938 to Present

Polio Incidence 1949 Footnotes Sources Put U.S. Map here

March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign Preterm is less than 37 completed weeks gestation. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data. Retrieved June 1, 2006, from

Multiyear, multimillion-dollar research, awareness and education campaign to help families have healthier babies. Raise awareness of the problems of prematurity and reduce the rate of premature birth in accordance with the U.S. Public Health Service Healthy People 2010 objective. Partners: AAP, ACOG, AWHONN March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign

Internal epidemiology group (3FT, 3PT, PAC) Goal: To provide –(1) relevant and timely maternal/infant health data; –(2) the resources/technical support to use the information effectively. Audience: –March of Dimes Staff and Volunteers –Health Professionals (perinatal researchers, clinicians, policy makers, health departments, students) –Media March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center: Overview

Small Analysis Projects –Approximately 40 requests per month e.g. Chapter grants e.g. External researchers applying for grants e.g. Media –Methodological questions Epidemiologic Research –NCHS Vital Statistics –Hospital Discharge Data (HCUP - AHRQ) –State Vital Statistics –Insurance companies (e.g. Kaiser Permanente) March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center: Services and Research

Obstetrics and Gynecology January 2003

Obstetrics and Gynecology February 2005

Seminars in Perinatology March 2006

March of Dimes Informatics

Launch: –September 2001 –August 2004 Response to need for geographic-specific data US, state, county and city maternal & infant health data Quick access to information: –60,000 graphs, maps and tables –40,000 automated bullet descriptions March of Dimes PeriStats Overview

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention –National Center for Health Statistics –National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (e.g. BRFSS) –National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention US Bureau of the Census National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Resources and Services Administration Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Governors Association United States Department of Agriculture March of Dimes PeriStats Data Sources

Importance to field of maternal and infant health Reliability of data and data collection methodology Availability of data for a majority of states Ability to regularly acquire and maintain updates March of Dimes PeriStats Data Inclusion Criteria

March of Dimes PeriStats Data Available –Birth rates –Distribution of births –Timing of prenatal care –Adequacy of prenatal care –Low Birthweight –Preterm birth –Plurality –Delivery Method –Folic acid –Infant mortality rates –Age at death –Cause of death –Population –Substance use –Sexually transmitted diseases –Health Insurance –Newborn Screening –Neural tube defects Stratified Race/Ethnicity, Maternal Age, Plurality

March of Dimes PeriStats Demonstration

Closing Remarks Importance of vital records PeriStats: A starting point Chapter Program Services Committees Research collaborations – Linkages Methodological challenges

Michael J. Davidoff Manager, Informatics Research/Development March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center Phone: Contact Information

March of Dimes Background March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center –Epidemiologic research/interpretation –PeriStats Web site demonstration Presentation Outline