Skip directly to searchSkip directly to the site navigationSkip directly to the page's main content

Important Facts for Anencephaly

Definition

Number of children with anencephaly delivered per 10,000 live births and stillbirths to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.

Numerator

Number of children with anencephaly delivered among live births and stillbirths to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.

Denominator

Count of all live births and stillbirths to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.

Why Is This Important?

Anencephaly is a serious and rare birth defect which occurs when an embryo's neural tube fails to close during the first month of pregnancy. As a result, major portions of the brain, skull, and scalp fail to develop. A baby born with anencephaly may be stillborn or die within a few hours or days after birth. The cause of anencephaly is unknown, but it is hypothesized that a mother's diet and vitamin intake play a role. Recent studies have shown that addition of folic acid to the diet of females of childbearing age may significantly reduce the overall incidence of neural tube defects.
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Fri, 29 March 2024 10:08:01 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

Content updated: no date