CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS REGISTER IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

Congenital malformations are major causes of mortality and morbidity in childhood in Australia. Accurate local incidence data are essential for genetic counselling and research, for epidemiological studies of causation, including studying claimed teratogens, for planning health care facilities for children with congenital malformations, and for monitoring environmental teratogens. However, very little population‐based data are available in Australia for these purposes. Only data on selected defects in a few States have been collected. This paper reports on a study done in Western Australia to see whether existing data sources could be used for an ongoing Statewide register. The study revealed that 3% of all births had a major or minor malformation recorded at birth. Multiple sources of data were better than single sources. For complete, accurate data collection for the uses outlined above, additional sources of notification are essential; such a system for improved collection of incidence data on congenital malformations in Western Australia is described.