Publications
Birth defects are the second leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality worldwide. In the Americas, approximately one in ten deaths of children under 5 years of age is due to these anomalies. However, the information available on the burden of these conditions is limited.
Having this type of registry allows countries to know the burden of disease due to congenital defects and their characteristics, information that contributes to planning the actions and responses of health care providers.
PAHO encourages the countries of the region to promote policies to provide a better quality of life for people with congenital birth defects and to support their families. PAHO's Latin American Center for Perinatology, Women and Reproductive Health (CLAP) provides technical cooperation to strengthen surveillance systems in the countries of the region.