The incidence of cleft lip, cleft palate, hydrocephalus and <i>spina bifida</i> at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

Abstract

Our findings show a higher incidence of spina bifida in Malawians than in Caucasians and Orientals, but the incidence was lower than Omani subjects. The incidence of clefts and hydrocephalus in black Malawians, however, was lower than previously reported in other population groups, and hydrocephalus probably showed the lowest incidence among blacks in the continent. Furthermore, congenital malformations affected more girls than boys 4:1, but the infants had normal birth weight.