Pattern of Congenital Central Nervous System Anomalies Among Newborns at A Regional Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS) are important causes of childhood mortality, chronic illness and disability. They have significant implications for childhood growth and development particularly in resource limited settings. Areview of their occurrence is valuable to instituting preventive and curative health care services.Objective: To document the pattern of congenital CNS anomalies in our practice Subjects and Method: A retrospective study of all neonatal admissions with congenital anomalies of the CNS (Patients) admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi-Nigeria, between June 2013 andJanuary 2016. The anomalies were classified according to the ICD 10 Classification. Other parameters assessed were: age at admission, gestational age at delivery, family history of congenital anomalies, maternal age, social class, history of ante natal care, and admission outcome.Results: A total of 73 (9.3%) out of the admitted 785 neonates had congenital anomalies and majority (28, 38.4%) were of the CNS. The affected patients had a male preponderance (20, 71.4%). Myelomeningocele was the commonest CNS anomaly (20, 71.4 %). Poor antenatal care, lack of periconceptional folic acid (pFA) intake, late folic acid supplementation, low socio economic class, and late presentation were all associated with the incidence of congenital CNS anomalies. The patients had a neonatal mortality rate of 7.1% over the study period of 30 months (2.8% per year).Conclusion: Congenital CNS anomalies were the predominant congenital anomalies, and myelomeningocele was the commonest. The study underscores the need to institute a comprehensive healthcare programme for the prevention and management of congenital anomalies of the CNS in our practice.