Study of Birth Defects in a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

BACKGROUND Birth defects are responsible for increased perinatal mortality and long-term morbidities. To reduce its incidence, which is the need of the hour we should know more about them and possible risk factors, which can be prevented. The aim of the study is to study the overall frequency of birth defects in a tertiary hospital and search for association with certain risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS All newborns/stillborns with birth defects during one year were enrolled for the study. Similar number of newborns without birth defect during this period was taken as control. Relevant information was documented in both the groups and analysed. RESULTS Out of 11,008 births, congenital anomaly was found in 130 cases. The prevalence of birth defects was 1.18 percent. Association of occurrence of birth defects with increased paternal age, consanguinity, fever and drug intake in first trimester was found. 57.6% of the newborns with birth defects were stillborn, born at an earlier gestational age (33.6 week v/s. 37.5 weeks). Commonest system to be affected was CNS (49.2%). CONCLUSION Screening for aneuploidy and birth defects should be universal. Routine folic acid supplementation and pregnancy termination of malformed babies will reduce the incidences.