{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T07:11:23Z","timestamp":1780384283008,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,12]],"date-time":"2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739318400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":11,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Birth Defects Research"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>Birth defects are associated with psychosocial stress and stigma, in addition to increased mortality and lifelong disabilities. The language and phrasing used to describe individuals with birth defects in scientific writing can affect attitudes that contribute to stigma. Using a \u201cperson\u2010first\u201d writing structure (e.g., \u201cinfants with Down syndrome\u201d) instead of \u201cidentity\u2010first\u201d language (e.g., \u201cDown syndrome infants\u201d) is intended to promote respect and inclusivity. Our work aims to enhance awareness and advocacy of person\u2010first language among researchers and professionals in birth defects research, with the goal of reducing stigma and adopting language that prioritizes dignity for individuals and their families.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>We analyzed 52 population\u2010based birth defects articles published by the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) between 2002 and 2024, which we expect to exemplify writing practices among U.S. birth defects epidemiologists. We evaluated the use of person\u2010first and identity\u2010first language in population\u2010based birth defects research and advocated for increased consideration of person\u2010first language in the field.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Among 52 NBDPN articles reviewed, seven (13%) articles used person\u2010first language only, <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20096 (12%) used identity\u2010first language only, 38 (73%) used both, and one (2%) used neither.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>We encourage researchers to consider using person\u2010first language when describing individuals with birth defects in epidemiologic studies and in training birth defects epidemiologists, while acknowledging that some communities may also prefer an identity\u2010first framework (e.g., the \u201cDeaf community\u201d).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/bdr2.2449","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,12]],"date-time":"2025-02-12T11:59:41Z","timestamp":1739361581000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Choosing Words to Limit Stigma: The Use of Person\u2010First Language in Birth Defects Research"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"117","author":[{"given":"Jacqueline T.","family":"Bascom","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences UTHealth School of Public Health  Houston Texas USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5874-4155","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"A. J.","family":"Agopian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences UTHealth School of Public Health  Houston Texas USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6902a1"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","unstructured":"American Academy of Pediatrics.2024.\u201cPediactrics Author Instructions.\u201dhttps:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/pages\/author\u2010instructions."},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","unstructured":"American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association.2024.\u201cAnnual Meeting Abstract Submission.\u201dhttps:\/\/acpacares.org\/annual\u2010meeting\/abstract\u2010submission\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_9_5_1","unstructured":"American Medical Association Association of American Medical Colleges.2021.\u201cAdvancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language Narrative and Concepts.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.ama\u2010assn.org\/system\/files\/ama\u2010aamc\u2010equity\u2010guide.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_9_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dhjo.2022.101328"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_9_7_1","article-title":"Scientific Impact of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network Multistate Collaborative Publications","volume":"116","author":"Bascom J. T.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.317.7171.1521a"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/JMDH.S140067"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/a0038636"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jcad.12059"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annepidem.2018.09.004"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/ijcp.14856"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11999-014-3802-8"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_15_1","unstructured":"Little People of America.2024.\u201cFrequently Asked Questions.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.lpaonline.org\/faq."},{"key":"e_1_2_9_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychires.2019.04.011"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_17_1","unstructured":"National Institutes of Health.2024.\u201cPerson\u2010First and Destigmatizing Language.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.nih.gov\/nih\u2010style\u2010guide\/person\u2010first\u2010destigmatizing\u2010language."},{"key":"e_1_2_9_18_1","unstructured":"U.S. Congress.2010.\u201c111th Congress Public Law 111\u2013256.\u201dhttps:\/\/www.congress.gov\/111\/plaws\/publ256\/PLAW\u2010111publ256.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_9_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/10589-000"}],"container-title":["Birth Defects Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/bdr2.2449","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,20]],"date-time":"2025-06-20T13:02:38Z","timestamp":1750424558000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/bdr2.2449"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]},"references-count":18,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/bdr2.2449"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/bdr2.2449","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2472-1727","2472-1727"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2472-1727","type":"print"},{"value":"2472-1727","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2024-10-01","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-01-23","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-02-12","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e2449"}}