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.

Definition

Number of children born with gastroschisis per 10,000 live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.

Data Notes

Data Sources

• Birth Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Early Identification and Monitoring Program, Division of Family Health Services, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/eis/)

How the Measure is Calculated

• 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.

Related Health Objectives and Indicators

Related Risk Factors Indicators:

• Age-Specific Birth Rates
• Maternal Age
• Births to Teen Mothers

Health Topic Pages Related to: Gastroschisis

• Birth Defects