ABSTRACT
Objective @#To optimize the primary prevention strategies of birth defects in Zhejiang Province by Delphi method, so as to promote the capacity of birth defects prevention. @*Methods@#The expert consultation questionnaire was developed based on the relevant policies of Zhejiang Province and literature. Ten experts from medical institutions and health administrative departments were employed for one round Delphi expert consultation. The weighted scores and priorities of ten measures for the primary prevention of birth defects in Zhejiang Province were determined, as well as the suggestions of optimizing the current policies. @*Results @# The response rate of the experts was 90.91%; the coefficient of authority was 0.92; the coefficients of variation of ten measures were all less than 0.25; the coefficient of coordination was 0.31 ( P<0.05 ) , which indicated the opinions of the experts tended to be consistent. In the order of priority, ten primary prevention measures of birth defects were the improvement of birth defects surveillance network ( province, city and county level ) , the training of birth defects prevention talents, the construction of genetic consultation clinics, health education and publicity, the reproduction outpatient service construction for older people, free premarital medical examination, free pre-pregnancy eugenics test, the construction of drug consultation clinics, career planning and training of birth defect prevention and control consultants and free folic acid supplement to the whole population. Nine experts suggested that the following policies need to be optimized: birth defects surveillance system, free premarital medical examination, and health education and publicity.@*Conclusion@#In the primary prevention of birth defects in Zhejiang Province, the most urgent problem to be solved is the improvement of the three-level birth defects surveillance network.