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California Birth Defects Monitoring

California Birth Defects Monitoring Program (CBDMP) Birth Defects Report Summary

Table 1: Overall Prevalence of Selected Birth Defects: 2018–2020

Birth Defect Three Year Case Count P​revalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Anopthalmia/Micropthalmia 37 1.0 0.7–1.3
Anotia/Microtia 130 3.3 2.8–4.0
Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate 607 15.6 14.4–16.9
Congenital Heart Defects 2905
74.7 72.0–77.5
Craniosynostosis 193
5.0 4.3–5.7
Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula 79 2.0 1.6–2.5
Gastroschisis 136 3.5 2.9–4.1
Hypospadias** 901 45.2 42.3–48.3
Limb Deficiencies 127 3.3 2.7–3.9
Neural Tube Defects
281 7.2 6.4–8.1
Omphalocele 79 2.0 1.6–2.5
Trisomy 13 44 1.1 0.8–1.5
Trisomy 18 103 2.6 2.2–3.2
Trisomy 21 683 17.6 16.3–18.9

*Three year case count per 10,000 live births

**Hypospadias includes male or unknown gender in the numerator and male live births in the denominator

Data Source: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Registry, 2018–2020, California 10-County Catchment Area (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Orange, San Diego, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare)

Table 2: Prevalence of Selected Birth Defects by Mother’s Age: 2018–2020

Anopthalmia/Micropthalmia

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
6 0.8 0.3–1.6
25–29 9 0.8 0.4–1.6
30–34 11 0.9 0.5–1.7
35–39 10 1.5 0.7–2.7
40 and over
1 0.6 0.0–3.2

Anotia/Microtia

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
26
3.3 2.1–4.8
25–29 31 2.9 2.0–4.1
30–34 41 3.5 2.5–4.8
35–39 26 3.8 2.5–5.6
40 and over
6 3.4 1.3–7.4

Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
115 14.4 11.9–17.3
25–29 150 14.1 12.0–16.6
30–34 186 15.9 13.7–18.4
35–39 120 17.6 14.6–21.0
40 and over
34 19.4 13.4–27.1

Congenital Heart Defects

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
585 73.2 67.4–79.4
25–29 743 69.9 65.0–75.1
30–34 739 63.3 58.8–68.0
35–39 596 87.3 80.4–94.5
40 and over
237 135.0 118.5–153.2

Craniosynostosis

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
23 2.9 1.8–4.3
25–29 64 6.0
4.6–7.7
30–34 63 5.4 4.1–6.9
35–39 33 4.8 3.3–6.8
40 and over
10 5.7 2.7–10.5

Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
16
2.0 1.1–3.3
25–29 18 1.7 1.0–2.7
30–34 22 1.9 1.2–2.9
35–39 15 2.2 1.2–3.6
40 and over
8 4.6 2.0–9.0

Gastroschisis

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
70 8.8 6.8–11.1
25–29 40 3.8 2.7–5.1
30–34 23 2.0 1.2–3.0
35–39 2 0.3 0.0–1.1
40 and over
1 0.6 0.0–3.2

Hypospadias**

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
158 38.6 32.8–45.1
25–29 226 41.6 36.4–47.4
30–34 271 45.3 40.1–51.0
35–39 197 56.3 48.8–64.8
40 and over
49 54.4 40.3–71.9

Limb Deficiencies

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
34 4.3 2.9–5.9
25–29 31 2.9 2.0–4.1
30–34 32 2.7 1.9–3.9
35–39 26 3.8 2.5–5.6
40 and over
4 2.3 0.6–5.8

Neural Tube Defects

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
82 10.3 8.2–12.7
25–29 77
7.2 5.7–9.1
30–34 70 6.0 4.7–7.6
35–39 41 6.0 4.3–8.1
40 and over
11 6.3 3.1–11.2

Omphalocele

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
15 1.9 1.1–3.1
25–29 18
1.7 1.0–2.7
30–34 17 1.5 0.8–2.3
35–39 19 2.8 1.7–4.3
40 and over
10 5.7 2.7–10.5

Trisomy 13

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
3 0.4 0.1–1.1
25–29 3 0.3 0.1–0.8
30–34 16 1.4 0.8–2.2
35–39 17 2.5 1.5–4.0
40 and over
4 2.3 0.6–5.8

Trisomy 18

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
9
1.1 0.5–2.1
25–29 12 1.1 0.6–2.0
30–34 16 1.4 0.8–2.2
35–39 40 5.9 4.2–8.0
40 and over
26 14.8 9.7–21.7

Trisomy 21

Mother’s Age (Years) Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
24 and under
61 7.6 5.8–9.8
25–29 66 6.2 4.8–7.9
30–34 136 11.6 9.8–13.8
35–39 227 33.2 29.1–37.9
40 and over
193 109.9 95.0–126.5

*Three year case count per 10,000 live births

**Hypospadias includes male or unknown gender in the numerator and male live births in the denominator

Data Source: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Registry, 2018–2020, California 10-County Catchment Area (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Orange, San Diego, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare)

Table 3: Prevalence of Selected Birth Defects by Mother's Race and Ethnicity: 2018–2020

Anopthalmia/Micropthalmia

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 0
not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 1 0.2 0–1.1
Black/Non-Hispanic 1 0.7 0–3.9
Hispanic 27 1.4 0.9–2.1
White/Non-Hispanic 4 0.4 0.1–0.9

Anotia/Microtia

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 0
not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 18 3.5 2.0–5.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 2 1.4 0.2–5.1
Hispanic 80 4.2 3.4–5.3
White/Non-Hispanic 22 2.0 1.3–3.0

Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 4
10.3 2.8–26.3
Asian/Non-Hispanic 72 13.8 10.8–17.4
Black/Non-Hispanic 12 8.4 4.3–14.7
Hispanic 300 15.9 14.2–17.8
White/Non-Hispanic 157 14.3 12.1–16.7

Congenital Heart Defects

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 30
77.0 52.0–109.7
Asian/Non-Hispanic 255 49.0 43.2–55.4
Black/Non-Hispanic 102 71.3 58.2–86.5
Hispanic 1518 80.6 76.6–84.8
White/Non-Hispanic 765 69.4 64.6–74.5

Craniosynostosis

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic
1
2.6 0.1–14.3
Asian/Non-Hispanic 11 2.1 1.1–3.8
Black/Non-Hispanic 1 0.7 0–3.9
Hispanic 95 5.0 4.1–6.2
White/Non-Hispanic 73 6.6 5.2–8.3

Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 0
not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 8 1.5 0.7–3.0
Black/Non-Hispanic 4 2.8 0.8–7.2
Hispanic 35 1.9 1.3–2.6
White/Non-Hispanic 21 1.9 1.2–2.9

Gastroschisis

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 0
not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 10 1.9 0.9–3.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 4 2.8 0.8–7.2
Hispanic 74 3.9 3.1–4.9
White/Non-Hispanic 30 2.7 1.8–3.9

Hypospadias**

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic
6
29.8 11.0–64.8
Asian/Non-Hispanic 116 42.9 35.5–51.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 36 49.4 34.7–68.4
Hispanic 304 31.8 28.3–35.6
White/Non-Hispanic 392 69.2 62.5–76.4

Limb Deficiencies

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 0
not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 6 1.2 0.4–2.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 6 4.2 1.5–9.1
Hispanic 67 3.6 2.8–4.5
White/Non-Hispanic 28 2.5 1.7–3.7

Neural Tube Defects

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 3
7.7 1.6–22.5
Asian/Non-Hispanic 20 3.8 2.3–5.9
Black/Non-Hispanic 5 3.5 1.1–8.2
Hispanic 133 7.1 5.9–8.4
White/Non-Hispanic 35 3.2 2.2–4.4

Omphalocele

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic
2
5.1 0.6–18.5
Asian/Non-Hispanic 6 1.2 0.4–2.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 4 2.8 0.8–7.2
Hispanic 34 1.8 1.3–2.5
White/Non-Hispanic 13 1.2 0.6–2.0

Trisomy 13

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 0 not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 2 0.4 0–1.4
Black/Non-Hispanic 2 1.4 0.2–5.1
Hispanic 11
0.6 0.3–1.0
White/Non-Hispanic 8 0.7 0.3–1.4

Trisomy 18

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic
0
not applicable not applicable
Asian/Non-Hispanic 10 1.9 0.9–3.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 1 0.7 0–3.9
Hispanic 31 1.6 1.1–2.3
White/Non-Hispanic 10 0.9 0.4–1.7

Trisomy 21

Mother’s Race and Ethnicity Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Other/Non-Hispanic 10 25.7 12.3–47.2
Asian/Non-Hispanic 40 7.7 5.5–10.5
Black/Non-Hispanic 17 11.9 6.9–19.0
Hispanic 360
19.1 17.2–21.2
White/Non-Hispanic 127 11.5 9.6–13.7

*Three Year Case Count per 10,000 live births

**Hypospadias includes male or unknown gender in the numerator and male live births in the denominator

Data Source: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Registry, 2018–2020, California 10-County Catchment Area (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Orange, San Diego, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare)

Table 4: Prevalence of Selected Birth Defects by Mother's County of Residence:2018–2020

Anopthalmia/Micropthalmia

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 9 2.1
1.0–4.0
Kern 3 0.8 0.2–2.3
Kings 0 not applicable not applicable
Madera 1
1.6 0–8.9
Merced 2 1.7 0.2–6.3
Orange 5 0.5 0.2–1.2
San Diego 9 0.8 0.4–1.5
San Joaquin 2 0.7 0.1–2.4
Stanislaus 4 1.8 0.5–4.7
Tulare 2 1.0 0.1–3.6

Anotia/Microtia

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 21 5.0 3.1–7.6
Kern 9 2.4 1.1–4.5
Kings 0 not applicable not applicable
Madera 3
4.8 1.0–14.0
Merced 4 3.5 0.9–8.9
Orange 33 3.3 2.2–4.6
San Diego 34 3.1 2.1–4.3
San Joaquin 9 3.0 1.4–5.8
Stanislaus 6 2.8 1.0–6.0
Tulare 11 5.4 2.7–9.7

Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 71 16.8 13.1–21.2
Kern 76
20.0 15.8–25.0
Kings 15 21.9 12.3–36.2
Madera 13 20.8 11.1–35.5
Merced 15 13.0 7.3–21.5
Orange 135 13.3 11.2–15.8
San Diego 150 13.5 11.4–15.8
San Joaquin 49 16.6 12.3–21.9
Stanislaus 40 18.4 13.1–25.0
Tulare 43 21.2 15.3–28.5

Congenital Heart Defects

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 339 80.1 71.8–89.1
Kern 301 79.2 70.6–88.7
Kings 51 74.6 55.6–98.0
Madera 53
84.7 63.5–110.6
Merced 87 75.7 60.7–93.3
Orange 621
61.4 56.6–66.4
San Diego 844 76.0 71.0–81.3
San Joaquin 237 80.2 70.3–91.0
Stanislaus 208 95.7 83.2–109.5
Tulare 164 80.7 68.9–94.0

Craniosynostosis

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 19 4.5 2.7–7.0
Kern 11 2.9 1.4–5.2
Kings 4 5.9 1.6–15.0
Madera 4 6.4 1.7–16.4
Merced 4
3.5 0.9–8.9
Orange 56 5.5 4.2–7.2
San Diego 72 6.5 5.1–8.2
San Joaquin 8 2.7 1.2–5.3
Stanislaus 6 2.8 1.0–6.0
Tulare 9 4.4 2.0–8.4

Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 8 1.9 0.8–3.7
Kern 4
1.1 0.3–2.7
Kings 1
1.5 0–8.1
Madera 3 4.8 1.0–14.0
Merced 1
0.9 0–4.8
Orange 21 2.1 1.3–3.2
San Diego 26 2.3 1.5–3.4
San Joaquin 6 2.0 0.7–4.4
Stanislaus 5 2.3 0.7–5.4
Tulare 4 2.0 0.5–5.0

Gastroschisis

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 21 5.0 3.1–7.6
Kern 15 3.9 2.2–6.5
Kings 5
7.3 2.4–17.1
Madera 3 4.8 1.0–14.0
Merced 5 4.3 1.4–10.1
Orange 28 2.8 1.8–4.0
San Diego 34 3.1 2.1–4.3
San Joaquin 6 2.0 0.7–4.4
Stanislaus 5 2.3 0.7–5.4
Tulare 14 6.9 3.8–11.6

Hypospadias**

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 91 42.1 33.9–51.7
Kern 60 30.7 23.4–39.5
Kings 12 34.7 17.9–60.5
Madera 8 24.8 10.7–48.8
Merced 22
37.6 23.6–56.9
Orange 283 54.3 48.2–61.0
San Diego 281 49.4 43.8–55.5
San Joaquin 41 27.2 19.5–36.9
Stanislaus 60 53.8 41.1–69.2
Tulare 43 42.0 30.4–56.5

Limb Deficiencies

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 19 4.5 2.7–7.0
Kern 12
3.2 1.6–5.5
Kings 3 4.4 0.9–12.8
Madera 1 1.6 0–8.9
Merced 5 4.3 1.4–10.1
Orange 32 3.2 2.2–4.5
San Diego 29 2.6 1.7–3.7
San Joaquin 11 3.7 1.9–6.7
Stanislaus 5 2.3 0.7–5.4
Tulare 10 4.9 2.4–9.1

Neural Tube Defects

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 33 7.8 5.4–11.0
Kern 40
10.5 7.5–14.3
Kings 5 7.3 2.4–17.1
Madera 5 8.0 2.6–18.6
Merced 12 10.4 5.4–18.2
Orange 62 6.1 4.7–7.9
San Diego 57 5.1 3.9–6.6
San Joaquin 24 8.1 5.2–12.1
Stanislaus 19 8.7 5.3–13.6
Tulare 24 11.8 7.6–17.6

Omphalocele

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 11 2.6 1.3–4.7
Kern 7 1.8 0.7–3.8
Kings 0 not applicable not applicable
Madera 0
not applicable not applicable
Merced 3 2.6 0.5–7.6
Orange 23 2.3 1.4–3.4
San Diego 20 1.8 1.1–2.8
San Joaquin 10 3.4 1.6–6.2
Stanislaus 1 0.5 0–2.6
Tulare 4 2.0 0.5–5.0

Trisomy 13

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 7 1.7 0.7–3.4
Kern 2 0.5 0.1–1.9
Kings 2 2.9 0.4–10.6
Madera 1 1.6 0–8.9
Merced 2 1.7 0.2–6.3
Orange 11 1.1 0.5–1.9
San Diego 7 0.6 0.3–1.3
San Joaquin 3 1.0 0.2–3.0
Stanislaus 4 1.8 0.5–4.7
Tulare 5 2.5 0.8–5.7

Trisomy 18

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 11 2.6 1.3–4.7
Kern 7 1.8 0.7–3.8
Kings 3 4.4 0.9–12.8
Madera 1 1.6 0–8.9
Merced 4 3.5 0.9–8.9
Orange 37 3.7 2.6–5.0
San Diego 22 2.0 1.2–3.0
San Joaquin 10 3.4 1.6–6.2
Stanislaus 3 1.4 0.3–4.0
Tulare 5 2.5 0.8–5.7

Trisomy 21

Mother’s County of Residence Three Year Case Count Prevalence Rate* 95% Confidence Interval
Fresno 78 18.4 14.6–23.0
Kern 61 16.1 12.3–20.6
Kings 10 14.6 7.0–26.9
Madera 10
16.0 7.7–29.4
Merced 16
13.9 8.0–22.6
Orange 185 18.3 15.7–21.1
San Diego 181 16.3 14.0–18.8
San Joaquin 69 23.3 18.2–29.5
Stanislaus 40 18.4 13.1–25.0
Tulare 33 16.2 11.2–22.8

*Three Year Case Count per 10,000 live births

**Hypospadias includes male or unknown gender in the numerator and male live births in the denominator

Data Source: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program Registry, 2018–2020, California 10-County Catchment Area (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Orange, San Diego, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare)​​​​​

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