Abstract
Birth defects are a global problem, but their impact is particularly severe in low and middle income countries, where the conditions for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation are more critical. The epidemiological transition in the infant mortality causes, and the concern of the community and the mass media about the teratogenic risk of environmental pollutants, has made health authorities aware of the importance of birth defects in Argentina. The objective of this paper is to outline those actions specifically taken in Argentina aimed at the prevention of birth defects at a national level. Firstly, we focus on birth defects in Argentina on a general basis, and then we present different laws and actions taken in terms of surveillance and public health programs, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Finally, we present the Teratology Information Service “Fetal Health Line”, and the genetic services organization and health professionals training by the National Center of Medical Genetics and the National Program of Genetics Network. In conclusion, in the country, several programs focus on different approaches to the problem, and the challenge is to coordinate the teamwork between them. Finally, we list tips to address birth defects from the public health perspective.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnológica, Buenos Aires, Argentina (PICTO 2011-0147), and the National Ministry of Health (Becas Salud Investiga 2011-2012-2013).
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The authors declare that the experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed (Argentina).
Conflict of interest
María Paz Bidondo, Boris Groisman, Pablo Barbero, and Rosa Liascovich declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Bidondo, M., Groisman, B., Barbero, P. et al. Public health approach to birth defects: the Argentine experience. J Community Genet 6, 147–156 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-014-0209-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-014-0209-x