Welcome to NH BCP

Birth conditions are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in New Hampshire’s children. The cause of 60 to 70 percent of birth conditions is unknown, therefore public health programs are integral in detecting the occurrence of birth conditions, to investigate potential causative agents, plan and evaluate the effects of prevention and intervention activities, and to ensure appropriate care for persons in need of services.

The NH Birth Conditions Program (NH BCP) is a population-based, active surveillance program designed to:

• Detect trends in the occurrence of birth conditions
• Quantify the associated morbidity and mortality
• Stimulate epidemiological and biologic research
• Evaluate the need for and facilitate access to supportive health services
• Guide and assess the progress of state-wide prevention activities
• Educate the community
• Health care providers and service agencies regarding birth conditions

This program is a collaborative effort between Dartmouth Medical School, Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth and the State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.