March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center: Communicating Maternal and Infant

Health Information

Michael J. DavidoffMarch 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 Dimes1938 to Present

Polio Incidence1949

FootnotesSources

Put U.S. Map here

March of DimesPrematurity Campaign

Preterm is less than 37 completed weeks gestation. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data. Retrieved June 1, 2006, from www.marchofdimes.com/peristats.

• 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 DimesPrematurity 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 DimesPerinatal 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 DimesPerinatal Data Center: Services and Research

Obstetrics and GynecologyJanuary 2003

Obstetrics and GynecologyFebruary 2005

Seminars in PerinatologyMarch 2006

www.marchofdimes.com/peristats

March of DimesInformatics

• 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 DimesPeriStats 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 DimesPeriStats 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 DimesPeriStats Data Inclusion Criteria

March of DimesPeriStats 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

www.marchofdimes.com/peristats

March of DimesPeriStats 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: 914-997-4549

Email: mdavidoff@marchofdimes.com

Contact Information

• March of Dimes Background

• March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center– Epidemiologic research/interpretation– PeriStats Web site demonstration

PresentationOutline