Incidence and distribution of congenital malformations in newborns: a hospital based study

Abstract

Background: It is considered that the congenital disorders are not a public health problem among the developing countries, however, over the recent years, they are actually experiencing a transition in the epidemiology like significant reduction in infant mortality rates, decline in infections and malnutrition and also a relative rise in morbidity as well as mortality due to the congenital malformations. Present study describes the incidence and distribution of congenital malformations in newborns during the study period at Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. Methods: This study was a hospital based cross sectional study. Seven thousand and twelve (7012) babies born over a period extending from 1 st March 1994 to 31 st April 1995 at Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra were studied for congenital malformations diagnosed clinically within 3 days of life. Both major and minor malformations were recorded. Minor variations such as capillary haemangioma, mongolian spots, superficial sacral dimples, small umbilical hernias, saddle nose, mild bowing of tibia and hydrocele of the testis were not considered as malformation. Results: Out of 7012 subjects, 66 newborns (0.94%) were found to be affected with congenital malformations. There was no statistically significant difference between the incidence of congenital malformations in males and females with a male: female ratio of 0.97:1. Central nervous system malformations were the most common and found in 51.66% cases. There was statistically significant higher rate of congenital malformations among stillborn babies (8.54%) as compared to live born babies (0.62%) with a p value less than 0.05. Out of 66 newborns with congenital malformations, 19 newborns had other birth defects apart from the congenital malformation. Conclusions: Congenital malformations were noted in 0.94% of the newborns at the tertiary care hospital and central nervous system malformations were the most common.