Epidemiology of congenital abnormalities in West Africa: results of a descriptive study in teaching hospitals in Abidjan: Cote d'Ivoire

Background: Congenital abnormalities constitute one of the major causes of infant mortality; particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of congenital anomalies in Cote d'Ivoire. Materials and Methods: It was a multicentric study of three academic hospitals and the Heart Institute of Abidjan over 10 years. The epidemiologic Data concerned the Parturients; the annual frequency of congenital abnormalities. Distribution of the congenital abnormalities according to the organs; overall mortality and lethality of congenital abnormalities were evaluated. Results: Over 10 years; 1.632 newborns with 1.725 congenital anomalies were recorded. Frequency was 172.5 congenital anomalies per annum. Parturients were less than 35 years in 33% of cases; multigravida in 20%; multiparous in 18% and had a low socio economic status in 96% of cases. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies was performed in 1.5%. Congenital anomalies were orthopedic in 34%; neurological in 17%; gastrointestinal in 15%; facial in 11.5%; parietal in 13%; urogenital in 9% and cardiac in 0.5% of cases. The overall mortality rate of congenital anomalies was 52% and gastroschisis was the most lethal disease with 100% mortality. Conclusion: This descriptive study reveals the low socio economic status of Parturients with congenital anomalies and their poor prenatal diagnosis. These factors explain the very high mortality of congenital anomalies due to a delay management in our country in which medical expenses were borne by parents and where technical platforms remain obsoletes for good resuscitation and neonatal surgery

Epidemiologie des anomalies congenitales dans les centres hospitaliers et universitaires d'Abidjan

Les anomalies congenitales constituent l'une des principales causes de la mortalite infantile dans le monde et particulierement dans les pays en developpement. Objectif principal etait de repertorier toutes les malformations observees dans les trois centres Hospitaliers Universitaires d'Abidjan et a l'institut de cardiologie et les Objectifs secondaires de : - Repertorier leurs caracteristiques epidemiologiques ; - Hierarchiser les pathologies malformatives en fonction de leurs frequences ; - Etablir la mortalite globale de ces pathologies malformatives ; - Etablir la letalite de chacune de ces pathologies malformatives. Patients et methode. Il s'agissait d'une etude retrospective et descriptive sur 10 ans. Les donnees etudiees etaient celles epidemiologiques repertoriees a partir des dossiers medicaux et registres dans les 3 CHU d'Abidjan. Les nouveau-nes de 0 a 28 jours traites pour une anomalie congenitale pendant la periode d'etude etaient la population etudiee. Les donnees ont ete traitees et analysees par les logiciels epi info et Excel. Resultats. De 1996-2006; 1496 nouveaux nes presentant 1589 anomalies congenitales ont ete recenses dans les centres hospitaliers universitaires d'Abidjan. Il s'agissait de nouveau-nes; de meres agees de moins de 35 ans dans 33 des cas; multigestes dans 20 des cas; multipares dans 18 des cas. Les grossesses ont ete regulierement suivies dans 22 des cas et une echographie obstetricale a ete effectuee dans 1 cas sur 4. Le diagnostic prenatal des anomalies congenitales a ete effectue dans 1;5 des cas. Le diagnostic des anomalies congenitales a ete fait dans 79 ;5 des cas a la naissance. Les anomalies congenitales observees etaient : Orthopediques : 33; Neurologiques : 18; Digestives : 14; Faciales : 12;5; Parietales : 12; Urogenitales : 10; Cardiaques : 0;5. - La mortalite globale etait de 52. Les malformations digestives; parietales et neurologiques sont les plus letales Conclusion. les anomalies congenitales existent et sont relativement importantes dans nos structures hospitalieres. Leur diagnostic prenatal reste faible. Elles sont dominees par les anomalies orthopediques. Leur mortalite reste elevee. La mortalite est grevee par une letalite plus importante des pathologies congenitales viscerales

Epidemiology of external birth defects in neonates in South Western Nigeria

Background: There is paucity of information on the prevalence of birth defects in Nigeria, particularly in our setting. This study determined the epidemiology of external congenital anomalies in Southwest Nigerian children. Patients and Methods: This was a stratified, randomized study of neonates presenting with external birth defects in Ife-Ijesha in Southwestern Nigeria, from August 2003 to July 2004. The neonates were screened for obvious congenital malformations by thorough physical examination. Results: A total of 624 neonates were screened, 43 (6.9%) of whom had external birth defects (prevalence: 3.7 [+ or -] 0.8% SD). There was a slight male preponderance (M: F= 1.4: 0.9). The overall prevalence rates of external congenital and major anomalies in Ife-Ijesa are 6.9 and 3.7% respectively. A higher prevalence for major malformations, 6.3%, was also found within the minority ethnic groups in these communities compared to the native majority. Musculoskeletal abnormalities are the most common anomaly, followed by those of abnormal external genitalia and head defects. Conclusion: Major malformations are more common amongst the minority settlers in this study, and musculoskeletal abnormalities were the most prevalent