Maternal and perinatal aspects of birth defects: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• Congenital defects pose a significant global health challenge.
• Accurate data on prevalence and associated factors are crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of congenital defects.
• To identify maternal and perinatal factors associated with birth defects.
• To review data from birth certificates for epidemiological insights.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 12,199 live births from 2003-2007 in Southeast Brazil.
• Case-control study matching infants with defects to controls.
• Analysis of 13 maternal, labor, and fetal variables using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

Main Results:

• Congenital defect prevalence was 0.38%, with 32% of cases having multiple defects.
• Maternal education level (≤8 years) was significantly associated with birth defects (p=0.047).
• Infants with defects showed higher prematurity, cesarean delivery rates, lower birth weight, and lower Apgar scores.

Conclusions:

• The observed prevalence may be underestimated due to underreporting of less visible defects.
• Effective epidemiological surveillance is essential for developing and enhancing prevention and treatment programs.
• Visible defects are more likely to be reported on birth certificates, indicating a need for improved data collection.