ABSTRACT:The etiology of congenital malformations has not been clearly defined. It is interesting to note that certain congenital malformations are more prevalent in some areas 1 . Neural tubal defects (NTD) are common in Punjab and cleft lip (CL) is common in south India. Gastrointestinal tract defects are detected from south i.e. Mysore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Pondicherry. Polydactyly was prevalent in south India and Chandigarh. Incidence of Talipes was highest in Delhi and next in order were Chennai, Pondicherry and Patna. Malformations are controlled by genetic and environmental factors and a thorough analysis would indicate the factors responsible for their genesis and thereby, their means of prevention 2 . Thus it is imperative that in every region the prevalence and peculiarities of malformations should be studied. Therefore, the present study was carried out in Government General Hospital, Kakinada, where consanguineous marriages are very much prevalent. The aim is to study the spectrum, incidence and maternal risk factors associated with congenital malformations.

Neonatal septicemia remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the new born, more so in developing countries like India due to delivery and post natal follow up in an unclean environment having more chances of contamination with infective organisms. Infection is more common in the neonatal period than at any other time in life. 1 This is partly attributable to exposure to large number of organisms, but is also due to a relative failure of the neonatal host defenses to clear microorganisms from blood and tissues. The rate of infection and type of organism causing sepsis in a neonate vary with demography. In India, the incidence of neonatal septicemia is 10-30/1000 live births, 2 whereas in western countries it is 1-8/1000 live births. 3