Definition
Number of children born with gastroschisis per 10,000 live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Numerator
Number of children born with gastroschisis among live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Denominator
Count of all live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Why Is This Important?
Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which a portion of an infant's intestines protrude out of the body through a hole in the body wall beside the umbilical cord. The body wall defect may be small or large, and other organs, including the liver, can be involved. Gastroschisis occurs during pregnancy when the muscles of the wall of the baby's abdomen do not form correctly.
Some scientists think that genetics or an environmental exposure during pregnancy can cause gastroschisis, but the exact cause is still unknown. Risk factors for gastroschisis include: young maternal age; race (white teenagers have higher rates than African-American teenagers); and possibly prepregnancy maternal diets that are are high in fat and cholesterol.