Title: Use of genetic services for the prevention and control of birth defects in China

Authors: Yingyao Chen, Xu Qian, Stuart O. Schweitzer

Addresses: School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138, Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, PRC. ' School of Public Health, Fudan University, 138, Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, PRC. ' School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USA

Abstract: This paper describes the incidence of birth defects in China in recent years and demonstrates cost of illness of some birth defects. It highlights the dramatically heavy burdens to society due to birth defects, and shows that they are becoming an important public health issue. It analyses the opportunity and threats facing programmes to prevent and control birth defects by genetic services for the Chinese healthcare system. Some recommendations are proposed to improve genetic services, including political commitment, a tiered medical genetic services system, ethical guidelines, capacity building, consumers| KAP, R&D, and setting priorities.

Keywords: birth defects; genetic services; defect prevention; defect control; genetics; healthcare technology; public health; China; ethics; priorities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2007.013516

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.8 No.5, pp.451 - 463

Published online: 03 May 2007 *

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