WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Health care providers, policy makers, researchers, surveillance professionals, donors, parent-patient organizations, other NGOs and volunteers from across the world interested in strengthening reproductive, maternal, newborn and child and adolescent health, with a focus on the prevention of birth defects, preterm birth and associated disabilities.

ICBD8 (2017) will include abstract based simultaneous symposia and posters sessions and plenaries with invited speakers. Each presentation will focus on sharing best practices/models of prevention and care of birth defects and premature birth in Latin América and around the world.

THE CONFERENCE TOPICS INCLUDE

• Birth defects surveillance and registration—issues, challenges, and strategies
• Preconception and interconception care for prevention of birth defects and preterm birth
• Improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent care services for ensuring optimal maternal and newborn health outcomes.
• Diagnostic strategies for birth defects: from preconception to adulthood.
• Newborn screening for birth defects.
• Birth Defects Surveillance Systems in Low- Middle Income Countries.
• Care of the affected newborn with birth defects (including inborn errors of metabolism).
• Strategies to reduce mortality and improve physical and developmental outcomes of newborns .
• The role of parent/patient organizations in advocacy, planning and delivery of care related to birth defects.
• Development of networks and partnerships for advancement of research, prevention and care.
• National policies and programs for the birth defects prevention and care.
• Healthcare worker education for improving the quality of maternal and newborn health services.
• Eliminating stigma and discrimination against persons with birth defects and disabilities.
• Policy and practice implications of recent scientific and epidemiologic research related to birth defects and preterm birth.
• Folate Status in women for reduction of neural tube defects risk.