Name ________________

Date _________________

Graphing Gastroschisis
Pie Charts

Pie charts are designed to show a percent of a whole, where the whole equals 100%. Pie charts are used to
compare data, but cannot be used to see how an independent variable affects a dependent variable. Pie charts
do not show change with respect to another variable, such as time. Using the data from the table below,
create a pie chart in the circle provided. Be sure to include a title and labels.
(8 points)
Genetic and environmental causes
of birth defects

Frequencies

Single Gene Defects

7.5 percent

Chromosome Abnormalities

7.5 percent*

Multifactorial Inheritance

20.0 percent

Teratogens

5 percent*

Unknown

60 percent

Source: University of Alabama Health System. Birth Defects Overview [online]. 2004. [9 June 2004].
Available from URL: http://www.health.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=67110

*Note: In order to have 100%, the frequencies for chromosomes abnormalities and teratogens were
changed from 6.0% to 7.5% and from 4% - 5% to 5%, respectively. These percents were changed
for educational purposes only.

FYI: A single gene defect is means that the child inherited a disease causing gene that caused the birth defect to develop.
Chromosome abnormalities mean that a mutation of the chromosome caused the birth defect to develop. Multifactorial
inheritance means that there are many factors contributing to the development of a birth defect. A teratogen is an
environmental agent, drug, or other agent that a mother might have been exposed to during her pregnancy. This exposure
causes abnormal development in the embryo or fetus.

Please answer the following questions from the chart and pie chart above: (1 point each)
1. What is the percent for a teratogen? ___________
2. Give an example of a teratogen. ______________
3. Which cause of birth defects is the most common? ________________________
4. A pie chart is a way to visually display the ___________ a certain category makes of the whole.
--------MORE PRACTICE: -------------------------------------------------------------------------Pretend that you are employed with the United States government and have been assigned to graph the
regional distribution of gastroschisis across the country. The data you found is in the chart below. Create a
pie chart in the circle provided. Be sure to include a title and labels.
(8 points)
Regions
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Northwest
Southwest

Percentages*
11 percent
43 percent
13 percent
8 percent
25 percent

*Note: These percentages are hypothetical and created for educational purposes.

Created by Aisha Tull & Amy Hallberg, CDC Science Ambassador, 2004.

Please answer the following questions from the pie chart above: (1 point each)
5. The ____________ region has the largest percent of gastroschisis.
6. Which region do you recommend to receive immediate gastroschisis prevention and education- Northern
region, Midwest region, or Southern region? ___________________
7. True or False. This pie chart allows you to compare how the regional gastroschisis percentages have
increased in the last two years.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bar Graphs

Bar graphs are designed to make comparisons of data. This data represented in bar graphs are not
necessarily dependent on any other variables. This means that the For example, bar graphs can be used to
compare the populations of different countries or the number of people who buy certain types of cars. In the
data table below, there are several different groups of information that can be represented by bar graphs.
Create a bar graph that compares the rate of gastroschisis per 1,000 births to the mothers age. Then, create
a separate bar graph for the race/ethnicity data, including a title and labels. (10 points each)

Source: California Birth Defects Monitoring Program. Gastroschisis[online]. 2004.

[9 June 2004]. Available from URL: http://www.cbdmp.org/bd_gastroschisis.htm.

*Note: Rate per 1,000 births is the same as Prevalence per 1,000 births.

Please answer the following questions from the chart and bar graphs above: (1 point each)
1. Which state has compiled this data? ___________________________
2. Of all births, about how many cases per year are in the United States? _____________
3. Which age group of mothers has the highest prevalence of gastroschisis? __________________
4. Which race/ethnic group of mothers has the highest prevalence of gastroschisis? _________________

Created by Aisha Tull & Amy Hallberg, CDC Science Ambassador, 2004.

Line Graphs
Line graphs show trends, such as how things change over time. They are the best type of graphs to
use to show how one factor affects another factor. They are typically used to express the relationship
between independent and dependent variables. For example, a line graph would be used to show a
babys increase in mass (dependent variable) over time (independent variable) or how the chances of
birth defects decrease (dependent variable) with an increase in a mothers folic acid intake
(independent variable). On a piece of graphing paper, create two line graphs. In the first graph,
graph how the rates of gastroschisis have changed over time. In the second graph, graph the
number of live births over time. Note: The independent variable is put on the x-axis. Be sure to
include a title and axis labels for each graph. (11 points each)
Prevalence per 10,000 Live Births in Arizona, 1986-1996

Year
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996

Gastroschisis Births
16
17
19
17
18
32
24
14
26
27
37

All Live Births

60,822
63,320
65,544
67,128
68,814
68,040
68,675
69,037
70,896
72,386
75,094

Prevalence
2.6
2.7
2.9
2.5
2.6
4.7
3.5
2.0
3.7
3.7
4.9

Source: Hughes, T. & Flood, T. Arizona Gastroschisis Report [online]. 2004. [9 June 2004]. Available from URL:
http://www.hs.state.az.us/phs/phstats/bdr/reports/gastrpt3.pdf

Please answer the following questions from the chart and line graphs above: (1 point each)
1. What do you notice about the prevalence of gastroschisis between 1986 and 1996?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you notice about the number of live births between 1986 and 1996? _____________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Which year experienced the highest prevalence of gastroschisis? ____________
4. Which year experienced the highest number of births? ___________________
--------ANAYLSIS QUESTIONS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------(5 points each)
1. Which type of graph(s) should you use when comparing the number of babies born in 2004 with
gastroschisis to the number of babies born with five other types of birth defects? ___________________
2. Which type of graph(s) should you use when showing how an increase in a mothers weight affects the rate
of gastroschisis? __________________
3. Which type of graph(s) should you use to show the percent of babies born with a particular birth defect (i.e.,
gastroschisis, spina bifida, etc.) compared to all babies born with birth defects in Georgia in 1988?
____________________
4. Which type of graph(s) should you use to display how an increase in a mothers alcohol consumption affects
the rate of gastroschisis? ______________________

Created by Aisha Tull & Amy Hallberg, CDC Science Ambassador, 2004.

5. Which type of graph(s) should you use when showing how the age of the father affects the rate of
gastroschisis? ___________________

Created by Aisha Tull & Amy Hallberg, CDC Science Ambassador, 2004.