Women and Newborn Health Service
Services A – Z
King Edward Memorial Hospital
Birth Defects
About the Birth Defects Registry
About the Birth Defects Registry
A birth defect is defined as a structural or functional abnormality that is present at conception or occurs before the end of pregnancy, and is diagnosed by six years of age.
The Western Australian Birth Defects Registry has a commitment to obtain high quality, complete, and population-based information on birth defects for Western Australia, and to use this information to:
- establish how often birth defects occur in Western Australia
- carry out research into the causes and prevention of birth defects
- investigate changes in the frequency of birth defects, which may point to a possible cause or provide reassurance that an increase has not occurred
- give doctors and other health professionals information about birth defects in Western Australia
- provide local statistics to assist health workers who counsel families about their chance of having a child with a birth defect
- evaluate screening for and treatment and prevention of birth defects and assist with planning health care facilities
- increase knowledge generally about birth defects
The Birth Defects Registry provides data on birth defects
in WA on request and through an 
Annual
Report. Collaborative research, telephone and written
enquiries are welcome.
Contact
| Senior Staff | Prof Carol Bower - Medical Specialist |
| Phone | (08) 9340 2735 (Business Hours) |
| Fax | (08) 9340 2636 |
