Contribution of congenital malformation to perinatal mortality in Lagos, Nigeria

Over a 17-month period we prospectively recorded identifiable congenital malformations at delivery in singleton births in our hospital. Despite the prevailing religious and cultural belief we carried out autopsies in 41% of the perinatal deaths that occurred during the study period. Out of a total of 63 (21/1000 singleton births) congenital malformations discovered, 21 (33%) were identified at autopsy only. About 16% of total perinatal deaths were due to congenital malformation. Cardiovascular malformations accounted for about 40% of perinatal deaths from congenital malformations followed by central nervous system malformation (23.3%), gastrointestinal malformations (20%), musculo-skeletal malformations (6.7%); renal malformations (3.3%) and others (6.7%). No relationship between maternal age, parity and congenital malformation was found. The results from this study suggest that with the use of autopsy, teratology may contribute significantly to the prevailing high perinatal mortality in Lagos more than was previously thought.