Congenital malformations at birth in Central India: A rural medical college hospital based data

TLDR

The study aimed to determine the incidence of congenital anomalies and associated risk factors among births at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, and to evaluate cardiovascular defects in high‑risk newborns. Newborns were systematically examined for congenital anomalies, with data collected from 9,386 deliveries (9,194 live births and 192 stillbirths) at the hospital. Among 9,386 births, 179 (1.91%) infants had congenital malformations—1.05% of singleton births and 3.23% of twins—with cardiovascular defects most common, and prematurity, advanced maternal age, higher birth order, and low birth weight were identified as significant risk factors; malformed infants accounted for 5.02% of stillbirths and contributed substantially to infant mortality.

Abstract

To study the incidence of congenital anomalies and the associated risk factors in Department of Pediatrics at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, a rural medical college hospital in central Maharashtra.All the intramural deliveries between 1 January 2005 and 31 July 2007 comprised 9386 births and their 9324 mothers (62 mothers gave birth to twin babies). The newborns were examined and assessed systematically for the presence of congenital anomalies, system wise distribution of anomalies and risk factors attributable.Out of the total 9386 deliveries, 9194 were live births and 192 were stillbirths. The total number of babies with congenital malformations was 179 (1.91%). Out of the 9262 singleton births, 177 (1.05%) were malformed, whereas 2 of the 62 pairs of twins had birth defects. Nine of the 179 malformed babies (5.02%) were still born. Prematurity, increased maternal age, increasing birth order and low birth weight were found to have a higher risk of congenital anomalies. Cardiovascular malformations were most common in live births, followed by musculoskeletal and genitourinary anomalies.Congenital anomalies are a major cause of stillbirths and infant mortality. Evaluation of cardiovascular system to rule out congenital heart disease in high-risk mothers' babies is the important factor to be considered.