O&G Forum

OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY FORUM 2022 | ISSUE 3 | 7 maternal and perinatal risk factors. Although congenital anomalies may be genetic, infectious, or environmental in origin, most o en it is di cult to identify the exact causes. Many congenital anomalies can be prevented. Vaccination, adequate intake of folic acid and iodine, and adequate antenatal care are key measures for prevention. Methods and Materials is retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the maternity unit of Universitas Academic Hospital, Bloemfontein, South Africa, during January 2013 to December 2017. All the live/stillborn babies born in the hospital during this period were included. e newborns were examined for the presence of congenital anomalies. e researchers were responsible for data collection. Categorization of Congenital Anomalies Congenital birth defects were diagnosed through physical examination and/or other investigations (e.g., ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], amniocentesis). Data of congenital birth defects was abstracted from prenatal ultrasound reports, antenatal maternal records, and the birth register. Anomalies were categorized using the latest version of the International Statistical Classi cation of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Calculation of Rates Captured data was entered into Microso Excel, cleaned, coded, and imported to statistical so ware for analysis. is was a descriptive retrospective quantitative analytical study. Descriptive statistics were used to present the incidence of congenital anomalies. Results During the study period (2013 to 2017), 2430 babies were born (live and deceased) in Universitas Hospital, of which 239 had congenital malformations, making the prevalence 9.84%. Most of the women (49.7%) belonged to the age group 20 to 29 years. Among newborns with congenital anomalies, 97 (40.60%) had central nervous system anomalies, 45 (18.83%) hadmultiple/ gross congenital anomalies, 31 (12.98%) had musculoskeletal anomalies, 21 (8.79%) had abdominal defects, 20 (8.37%) had chromosomal anomalies, 10 (4.18%) had urogenital anomalies, 8 (3.35%) had eye and face anomalies, and 7 (2.93%) had cardiovascular anomalies. e predominant systems involved were the central nervous system (40.60%), multiple/gross congenital defects (18.83%) and the musculoskeletal system (12.98%). Intracranial defects (congenital hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly; 28.88%) were the most common type of defect in the CNS system group. e mean maternal age for the 2430 newborns in the study population was 29 years. In the congenital anomaly group, the mean maternal age was similar. e mean gestational age of the total population was 33.6 weeks, and 1427 (58.72%) deliveries occurred before 37 weeks of gestation. Compared to the total population most fetuses with congenital anomalies had a lower gestational age. Congenital anomalies were seen more commonly (69.87%) in the multiparas in comparison to the primiparas (30.13%). CBD were more likely to be associated with low birth weight, prematurity, multiparity, and cesarean delivery. e number and occurrence rates of individual congenital anomalies are shown in Table 1. Some demographic characteristics for all newborns and newborns with CBDs are presented in Table 2. Table 1. Congenital anomalies among 2430 newborn infants delivered in Universitas Hospital from 2013 to 2017 System ICD-9- CM N Rate (%) 2002, Taiwan n (%) 1968–1995, Georgia, USA n (%) Total 239 9.84 1775 (7.33) 28 965 (33.938) Central nervous system defects Congenital hydrocephalus 742.3 66 27.160 86 (0.355) - Anencephaly 740.0 17 6.995 26 (0.107) 357 (0.418) Meningocele 741.9 2 0.823 12 (0.050) - Spina bifida 741.0 5 2.057 14 (0.058) - Microcephaly 742.1 3 1.234 14 (0.058) 443 (0.519) Ventriculomegaly 3 1.234 - - Sacral myelo- meningocele 1 0.411 - - Cardiac defects Heart defect/ cardiac defect 4 1.646 - - Ectopic cardis 1 0.411 - - Fetal cardiac abnormalities 1 0.411 - - 3 chamber heart + low set ears 1 0.411 - - Urogenital defects Fetal dysplastic kidneys 1 0.411 - - Fetal hydronephrosis 1 0.411 - - Fetal renal cyst 2 0.823 - - Severe hydronephrosis 1 0.411 - - Hypospadias 752.61 2 0.823 81 (0.335) - Congenital cystic kidney disease 753.1 1 0.411 13 (0.054) - Undetermined sex 752.7 2 0.823 24 (0.099) 89 (0.104) Musculoskeletal defects Club foot 754.5-7 15 6.173 107 (0.442) - Conjoint legs 1 0.411 - - Conjoint twins+ weber neck 1 0.411 - - Polydactyly 755.0 10 4.115 293 (0.797) 1081 (1.267) O&G Forum 2022; 32: 06-09 ORIGINAL RESEARCH