Congenital Anomalies in Thi-Qar: A Recent Observational Study during 2019

Abstract

Background:  congenital anomalies are a significant but under recognized cause of disability and mortality among infants and children under the age of five years. They can be life-threatening conditions, result in long-term disability, and negatively affect health – care system, societies, families and individual (2). Objectives:  to estimate the prevalence of congenital malformations in our locality Thi-Qar province, most common type and any responsible factors for these anomalies. Subjects and methods: a descriptive hospital-based prospective study in one year among newborn delivered baby in Bent Al-Huda Teaching Hospital, Thi-Qar Governorate, Iraq from January 2019 -December 2019. Both the mother and her baby were examined as a unit within 24 hours of birth A medical history was taken including parents age, residency, gestational age, and thorough physical examination of the baby was made. all baby with identified birth defects were admitted to neonatal care unit for observation, investigation, evaluation and management. The data were analyzed by simple statistical techniques recording number and percentage of cases. Results: The overall prevalence of congenital anomalies among neonates was 1.26%. The first most prevalent congenital malformations were anencephaly 7.78%, down syndrome 6.11%, upper and lower limb malformation 6.11% hydrocephalus 9%, heart malformation5%. More than one system involvement was reported in (6.11%) cases. Most congenital malformations occurred in male children 52.73% anomalies, 62% > 2.5 Kg body weight &36.67% in term baby. The highest congenital abnormality is reported among babies delivered by mothers aged 20-45 years of age (i.e.,94%). More than 62 % of urban resident. Conclusion: nervous system anomalies, down syndrome, and musculoskeletal system anomalies  are most prevalent congenital malformations in Thi-Qar while the low birth prevalence of other birth defect 1.26% may be a result of institutional and personal characteristics of the documentation system. Recommendation: The more wide extensive screening programs to detect the exact prevalence, type, causes and distribution of birth defects is needed and implemented as health program.