Exploratory study of risk factors for congenital malformations in Morocco

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study is to describe the teratogenic risk factors of congenital malformations in a large sample from the Moroccan population.Methods: It is a descriptive epidemiological study conducted between January 1st, 2011 and June 31th, 2016 at the "Les Orangers" maternity and reproductive health hospital in Rabat, Morocco.The data were collected on pre-established sheets and on the hospital’s malformations register.Results: A total of 245 cases of congenital malformations were recorded out of a total of 43923 births with a prevalence of 5.58 per thousand.Women over 35 years represent 24.1% of all cases. Consanguinity was found in 22.4% of cases, maternal diabetes in 7%, Fenugreek and herbs intake in 28.6%, and medication in 2.8%. Almost all of women (97.5%) are of low to moderate socio-economic level. Antenatal diagnosis was performed in only 28.6% of cases.Conclusion: Causes and risk factors of congenital malformations are diverse, which requires the application of large preventive and therapeutic approaches. However, the identification of risk factors specific to each country is necessary to establish specific preventive measures.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Congenital Malformations in Morocco

“…This study reported a prevalence of congenital malformations of 9.2 per 1000 births, a figure that aligns closely with those reported in other parts of Morocco: 1.02% of a percent at the Souissi maternity hospital in Rabat (25), 1.34% in the Oriental region (26), and 5.58 per 1000 at the "Les Orangers" hospital in Rabat (27). Comparatively, in other African countries, the prevalence stands at 9 per 1000 births in Cameroon (28), 3.2 per 1000 in Togo (29), and 3.6 per 1000 in Ivory Coast (30).…”

“…In our series, poly malformation syndrome was observed in 22.64% of cases, a figure nearly identical to that reported by the "Les Orangers" hospital in Rabat, where the syndrome was present in 26.5% of cases (27). Regarding the prevalence distribution of the various malformations identified in our study, neural tube malformations emerged as the most prevalent, with a frequency of 39.62%, followed by musculoskeletal malformations at 26.4%.…”