October 30, 2019
The first of its kind Global Birth Defects Description and Coding (GBDDC) app is now live, offering a wealth of expert information at the touch of a smartphone. The app contains images of major externally visible birth defects, with definitions and ICD codes, as well as video material on the newborn examination, information on Congenital Zika Syndrome and limited other syndromes.
The Basic Version, which is available now, is designed for teachers and health care workers who want to increase their understanding of birth defects and serves as an innovative training resource. This app organises information in an intuitive way and contains pathways to distinguish between similar malformations. It facilitates the accurate description and coding of birth defects.
The Surveillance Version, which will be available spring 2020, extends the basic version’s functionality, allowing the recording of surveillance data. This version will help low-resource settings improve their birth defects surveillance by providing diagnostic resources that can interface and support existing or emerging surveillance systems. Information can be uploaded from the phone/tablet to a secure server and downloaded by the local, regional, or national surveillance system’s data centre.
This initiative, funded by the European Union through the ZikaPlan project, was an international effort comprising nine countries and expert collaborators from many global agencies.
The app is now available for download on the Apple Store and on Google Play. Visit the Global Birth Defects website for a guide to installing, registering, and using the Basic Version of the app. To learn more about birth defects surveillance, visit the resource inventory available on the Global Birth Defects website here or get in touch by emailing us at globalbirthdefects@tghn.org .
