What are the criteria for a baby to be included in the HBDP database?
The end of the pregnancy must occur in the State, but conception and/or any part of the pregnancy can occur outside the State. The infant/fetus must have one or more reportable diagnoses, and the infant/fetus must have been noted to have had a problem during the antenatal period or within one year after delivery. Prenatally diagnosed fetuses and spontaneous miscarriages are also counted if they occur in the state, along with in-state births and infant deaths. Since data are collected on moderate to severe anomalies, information is abstracted on babies up to one year of age, except for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) which may not manifest itself until after one year of age. Since the effects of FAS definitely occur before birth, and because it is so poorly diagnosed by physicians, this one diagnosis is picked up at any age it is found.
