Studies on congenital abnormalities and related risk factors.

Congenital malformations were studied prospectively covering 11680 consecutive deliveries. The overall incidence of malformations was 2.3%. Musculoskeletal system was the most commonly involved system. The incidence of malformation was higher in still borns, premature, low birth weight babies and those with positive heredo-familial history. It was also higher in babies, born to mothers who were more than 35 years of age and gravida four and above. Consanguinity of marriage, drugs and hormone ingestion during pregnancy, antenatal complication like hydramnios, pre eclamtic toxemia, gestational diabetes was associated with high incidence of congenital malformations.