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Arizona Birth Defects Monitoring Program

Impact of Birth Defects in Arizona

The following information is provided to give a snapshot view of how birth defects impact the residents of Arizona physically, emotionally, and financially. This information is given to emphasize the importance of preventing birth defects, especially among women with high-risk pregnancies. Prenatal education and public awareness of preventative methods will help reduce the number of babies born with birth defects in Arizona each year.

Information from 2009 Vital Statistics Show:
  • 23.3% of all infant deaths were due to birth defects.
  • Infant mortality rates due to congenital anomalies are 7.69% higher in rural areas than urban areas of Arizona at 1.4 per 1,000 live births in contrast to 1.3 per 1,000 live births, respectively.
  • Infant mortality rates due to birth defects are the same between male and female at 1.3 per 1,000 live births.
  • African Americans have the highest infant mortality rates due to birth defects among all race/ethnicity groups at 2.5 per 1,000 live births, followed by Native American at 2.1 per 1,000 live births, Asian at 1.5 per 1,000 live births, White (non-Hispanic) at 1.3 per live births and Hispanic at 1.1 per 1,000 live births.
Information from the 2008 ABDMP Show:
  • 771 children were born with a reportable birth defect in Arizona in 2008. These defects include the most serious congenital anomalies.
  • The reportable birth defect rate for Arizona is 7.7 cases per 1,000 live and still births.
  • The most common birth defects observed for 2008 are oral clefts, Down syndrome, coarctation of aorta, and gastroschisis.
Information from the 2009 Hospital Discharge Database Show:
  • Children (0-17) with birth defects (ICD-9-CM 740.0-759.9) in any of the diagnostic fields accounted for about 13.3% of all pediatric hospitalizations in 2009.