Developing a birth defect surveillance system in a COVID influenced era

This session will begin with a brief overview of what a birth defect surveillance system is and why it is useful. Background information on what Montana has previously done to determine prevalence estimates of CYSHCN will be provided. The methodology used for researching surveillance system characteristics and each state’s birth defects surveillance system will be presented. Considerations such as the use of appropriate terminology, geographical location, and political climate influenced the recommendations made for implementing a surveillance system in a frontier state, this will be elaborated further in the session. Logistics, such as identifying stakeholders, funding sources, phase implementations, data collection, and reporting procedures will be presented. Finally, the recommendations made for the development of Montana’s birth defect surveillance system will be shared. Due to the COVID pandemic, the public has become more aware of state health department surveillance activities. We recognize that public health has been met with some skepticism or distrust in why the publics’ health information is being collected and what is being done with this data. This public concern warranted special consideration when proposing the development of new public health surveillance activities. The recommendations made for Montana’s birth defect surveillance system took into consideration the public’s concern, which will be addressed during this session. The session will end with an update on where Montana currently is in the implementation process of their birth defect surveillance system, challenges that have occurred along the way, and what the next steps will be.