Prevalence and pattern of birth defects in a tertiary health facility in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria

Abstract

ObjectiveTo ascertain the prevalence and pattern of congenital abnormalities that are peculiar to the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.MethodsThis is a descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study. It involved data from the labor ward and neonatal birth registers of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital on the total number of births and the babies that were delivered with major birth defects between August 2011 and December 2014. We also conducted a statistical comparison of the prevalence of congenital abnormalities in the Niger Delta with that in other regions of Nigeria and the developed world of Europe.ResultsOut of the 7,670 deliveries that occurred, 159 maternities had babies with major birth defects giving a prevalence of 20.73 cases per 1,000 live births. This figure is far more than that which was obtained in other regions of Nigeria −4.15:cases per 1,000 live births in the South East (P<0.001), 15.84:1,000 in the South West (P<0.01), and 5.51:1,000 in the North East (P<0.001). Eighty-five (53.46%) of the defects occurred in 1,681 unbooked patients, while 74 (46.54%) happened in 5,989 booked maternities (P<0.001). The predominant abnormalities were those of the central nervous system at 27.0%, gastrointestinal system 11.95%, cardiovascular system 10.69%, anterior abdominal wall 8.18%, skeleton 6.29%, and chromosomal abnormalities at 5.66%.ConclusionThe prevalence of major birth defects at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital was 20.73 cases per 1,000 live births and it was more in the unbooked than the booked maternities. All body systems were affected with those of the central nervous system predominating at 27.0% of the total diagnosed defects.

Non‐invasive cell‐free fetal DNA testing for aneuploidy: multicenter study of 31 515 singleton pregnancies in southeastern China

“…Chromosomal abnormality is a major contributor to birth defects, with autosomal trisomies 21, 18 and 13 (T21, T18, T13) and sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) being the most common. In China, the predominant approach for detection of fetal aneuploidy is first‐ and second‐trimester maternal serum screening in combination with ultrasound examination.…”

Drug‐related teratogenic and pathologic causes of birth defects in a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Nigeria

“…However, in Europe, a perinatal death of 2.0% in the form of stillbirths or fetal deaths and neonatal deaths (2.5%) in the first week of life are attributed to congenital anomaly . In Nigeria, available data on congenital malformations are mostly from hospital‐based studies . Abbey et al .…”

“…In Nigeria, available data on congenital malformations are mostly from hospital‐based studies . Abbey et al . in a descriptive retrospective cross‐sectional study conducted in a Nigerian teaching hospital reported a prevalence of 20.73 cases per 1000 live births, with the frequency in unbooked maternities significantly higher than the booked.…”

“…8 In Nigeria, available data on congenital malformations are mostly from hospital-based studies. [9][10][11] Abbey et al 9 in a descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in a Nigerian teaching hospital reported a prevalence of 20.73 cases per 1000 live births, with the frequency in unbooked maternities significantly higher than the booked. Also, Obu et al 11 in a cross-sectional retrospective review of medical records in a tertiary hospital in south-eastern part of Nigeria reported a prevalence of 2.8%.…”

Holoprosencephaly sequence with a constellation of anomalies in Yenagoa, a Niger Delta Region: report of two cases

“…[1][2][3][4] There are also reported adverse effects of this exposure on fetal development and outcomes of pregnancy from paternal and maternal associated factors. 5,6 Since Yenagoa is a city in an oil producing area, there is a need to report for the first time HPE in order to encourage more researches and highlight challenging issues associated with its management in the area. The WHO estimated that neonatal deaths from congenital anomalies worldwide increased from 260,000 (7% of all neonatal deaths) in 2004 to 303 000 (11.6% of all neonatal deaths) in 2016.…”