Malta Congenital Anomalies Registry

Overview
Acronym
MCAR
Type of information
Registry data
URL of the data source
https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/dhir/Pages/Registries/birthdefects.aspx
Description

A population based Malta Congenital Anomalies Register was established by the Department of Health Information of January 1997. This register covers births from all hospitals on the Maltese Islands and includes all cases suspected or diagnosed with a congenital anomaly until one year of age. Data on congenital anomalies diagnosed at birth was originally collected through the University of Malta between 1985 and 1996. The register became a member of EUROCAT (European Registration of Congenital Anomalies and Twins) in 1986. The register is population based and includes all births on the islands of Malta and Gozo which amount to around 4500  births per year. The Register is also an active member of the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research (ICBDSR) since 2000.

Governance and legal framework

The Malta Congenital Anomalies Registry collects and processes personal information regarding congenital anomalies for statistical and research purposes and in the interests of public health. All data is collected and processed in accordance to current data protection legislation.

Funding

The Registry is part of the Directorate for Health Information and Research and is wholly funded by the Government of Malta.

Free keywords
Congenital anomalies
Birth defects
Topics
Determinants of health » Individual characteristics and behaviours » Behaviours » Reproductive and maternal;
Determinants of health » Individual characteristics and behaviours » Individual characteristics » Birth weight;
Health status » Morbidity/disability » Non-communicable diseases » Reproductive, maternal and newborn health;
Health status » Mortality » Maternal, perinatal and newborn mortality » Infant mortality
Country(ies):
GEO coverage
Nuts 1
Target Population
Patients
Age range
From 0 years to 1 year
Sex
Both
Data Collection Period
From 01 January 1997 - Ongoing
Language(s)
English
Updating Periodicity
Daily
Personal Identifier
National identifier
Level of aggregation
Individual
Terms of data access - URL
https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/dhir/Pages/Registries/birthdefects.aspx
Terms of data access

Open aggragate data are available at https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/dhir/Pages/Registries/birthdefects.aspx where the data in aggregated format could be found and selected for different needs.Malta data is also available in interactive format through membership with EUROCAT: https://eu-rd-platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/eurocat_en 

Access to microdata for research and analytical purposes (for registered researchers, researchers in public administration and registered research institutions) can also be provided after a request for data application form is submitted. Application form for the anonymised microdata is available at the web page: https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/dhir/Pages/request-for-data-form.aspx . Researchers shall send the completed application for obtaining microdata by e-mail to healthinfo@gov.mt. Requests are then handled by internally following strict adherence to ethical and data confidentiality requirements prior to release of data.

Linkage possible
Yes
Data Owner(s)
Directorate for Health Information and Research – Ministry for Health – Government of Malta
Contact name
Dr Miriam Gatt
Contact e-mail
healthinfo@gov.mt
Contact info (address)

DHIR, 95, Telghet Gwardamanga, PIETA', Malta

Updated on 29 July 2022