Incidence of Birth Defects at Birth among Babies Delivered at Maternity and Children Teaching Hospital in Ramadi

Abstract

Background: Birth defects are an important contributor to infant morbidity and mortality among all racial/ethnic groups, and the 3rd leading cause of infant mortality after cancer and accidents in developed countriesObjective: To estimate the incidence of major and minor birth defects at birth and trying to identify some of possible associated factors.Methods: Between the 1st of February/2009 and the end of October/2009, 1494 newborns were enrolled in this study in Al- Ramadi Maternity and Children Teaching Hospital was examined for birth defects. Full information regarding the mother, newborn, and some socio-demographic factors were recorded after interview of the mother, and full examination was done by the investigator. Results: Forty-seven newborns (31.46/1000 total birth) had birth defects. The incidence of major anomalies was 16.73 /1000 total birth and minor 14.73/1000 total birth. Among total births, the most common system involved was genitourinary system (27.7%), followed by central nervous system (19.2%), musculoskeletal system (19.2%), oral anomalies (6.4%), skin (6.4%), and then the others. The incidence of birth defects was significantly higher in preterm infants, low birth weight infants, babies who were breech in utero, and in babies of mothers in both extreme age (below 20 and above 35 years), or had bleeding during pregnancy, urinary tract infection during pregnancy, and polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios.Conclusion: The incidence of birth defects is alarmingly high in Al- Ramadi city. The catastrophically successive wars imposed on Iraq undoubtedly have played some role in this problem. Attention should be made for defects at birth in genitourinary system, central nervous system and musculoskeletal system, however defects of cardiovascular system, and internal gastrointestinal tract may be evident sometime after birth