Welcome to the Florida Birth Defects Registry

Birth defects are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Florida’s children and contribute substantially to long-term disability. The possible association between environmental contaminants and human health problems is an important concern throughout Florida.

The Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR) is a statewide, population-based surveillance system that has identified birth defects in children born in Florida since 1999. The FBDR is operated by the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Public Health Medicine and works in conjunction with the Children’s Medical Services and other state agencies.

The mission of the FBDR is to protect and promote the health of everyone in Florida by detecting, investigating, and preventing birth defects. This is accomplished by:

• Identifying patterns of birth defects
• Identifying risk factors
• Investigating causes of birth defects
• Providing birth defect prevention information
• Studying long-term outcomes
• Promoting teamwork and partnerships