Frecuencia y algunos factores de riesgo de mortalidad en el estado de Hidalgo, México, por defectos de cierre del tubo neural / Frequency and some mortality risk factors in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico, due to neural tube closure defects

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the risk of fetal death due to neural tube defects and estimate associated factors in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were abstracted from death certificates registered during 1990-1995 in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. The design was a proportional mortality study, which is considered as a variant of the case control design. Cases were deaths with any type of neural tube defect, and controls were fetal deaths due to other causes. RESULTS: A total of 3,673 fetal death certificates were analyzed; 8.06 had neural tube defects and the remaining died of other causes. Fetal death was associated with fetal weight less than 2500 grams (OR 5.0, 95 CI 3.6-6.8), being female (OR 1.7, 95 CI 1.3-2.3), and death during the late fetal period (OR 5.5, 95 CI 3.8-8.1). CONCLUSIONS: Results show that the risk of fetal death due to neural tube defects is greater among low birth weight babies, females, and during the late fetal period.