Establish a birth defect prevention and control system covering the entire chain, benefiting over ten million households every year, including women and children | China | Chain
CCTV News: Today is the 34th World Population Day, and the theme of China has been determined to "promote gender equality and protect the health of women and children.". Having healthy children is the common expectation of every family. In recent years, the National Health Commission, together with relevant departments, has actively promoted the comprehensive prevention and control of birth defects, especially the equalization of birth defect prevention and control services, and established a three-level birth defect prevention and control system covering the entire chain.
There are many types of birth defects with complex causes. Currently, there are over 8000 known birth defects, including congenital heart disease, limb disabilities, cleft lip and palate, which are well-known to everyone. China regards birth defect prevention and control as an important component of maternal and child health services. Key projects related to birth defect prevention and control, such as supplementing folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and pre pregnancy eugenics health examinations, are arranged in the national basic public health services. Driven by central financial support, basic medical care services throughout the entire process of childbirth are provided, benefiting over ten million families nationwide every year. At present, the equalization level of comprehensive prevention and control services for birth defects in China has significantly improved. Since 2009, a total of 130 million rural women who gave birth have received folic acid supplements; The national prenatal examination rate has increased from 41.9% in 2011 to 70.9% in 2021, and the national prenatal screening rate has increased from 22.7% in 2011 to 85.7% in 2021. In the neonatal stage, the national screening rates for genetic metabolic diseases and hearing impairment in newborns have reached over 90%. China has formed a comprehensive prevention and control strategy for birth defects with Chinese characteristics, which integrates three-level prevention measures and maternal and child health services.
![Establish a birth defect prevention and control system covering the entire chain, benefiting over ten million households every year, including women and children | China | Chain](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/31f18498c27283d703f419592e36a1df.jpg)
Song Li, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the National Health Commission, said that for primary prevention, it is necessary to pay close attention to premarital and prenatal care, and provide services such as premarital health care, health education, prenatal health check ups, folic acid supplementation, and prevention of neural tube defects to prevent birth defects from occurring; Secondary prevention aims to provide comprehensive prenatal and postpartum health services, strengthen prenatal screening, diagnosis, and intervention, and further reduce serious deaths, deformities, and birth defects; In terms of three-level prevention, it is necessary to pay close attention to the post birth stage, and detect, intervene, and recover birth defects as early as possible to minimize the disability caused by birth defects.