Strengthening integrated surveillance and prevention of birth defects, stillbirths and congenital Zika virus infection to accelerate reduction in newborn mortality

In view of the burden of birth defects and their contribution to child mortality and long-term disabilities SEARO in collaboration with CDC Atlanta has developed Regional Strategic Framework for prevention and control of birth defects. Nine Member States in the Region have developed national plans for prevention and control of birth defects.

Under the regional and national plans birth defects surveillance is a key activity. For supporting hospital-based birth defects surveillance an integrated online database, called South-East Asia Region Newborn-Birth Defects (SEAR-NBBD) database has been developed. Regional and National workshops to build capacity in hospital-based birth defect surveillance have been conducted. 

A network of hospitals across the SEAR countries has been collecting and reporting prospective data on birth defects at birth, stillbirths and newborns to define the burden of birth defects and other perinatal conditions. More than 2.6 million births have been reported over last five years by about 200 hospitals across the SEAR countries selected in consultation with ministries of health. Ongoing support for building capacity in surveillance is being provided to the network hospitals. In addition, we need to strengthen the capacity for improving the quality of data, data analysis and dissemination of analysis for public health action. In the long term, it is planned to integrate the surveillance into the existing national health information system.