According to the government, the most common birth defects are cleft palate, neural tube defects, extra fingers or toes, and congenital heart disease. Researchers have said the sharp increase in birth defects is partially due to better reporting because more babies are born in hospitals nowadays rather than at home.
The World Health Organization puts the worldwide average rate of birth defects at 3% to 5%. But it is difficult to compare between countries because some measures include only physical defects detected at birth, and others include developmental delays that emerge later. As part of its population control measures, Chinese officials are more insistent on abortions if birth defects are suspected.
