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Congenital malformations among newborns in Morocco: A retrospective study
Adil Elghanmi1, Rachid Razine2, Mohamed Jou3
1Centre for Doctoral Studies in Life and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS), Casablanca.
Insights
Congenital malformations affect 1.02% of newborns in Rabat, Morocco. The nervous system was most frequently impacted, with male infants more affected than females.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Congenital malformations are a significant cause of infant mortality and morbidity globally.
- Prevalence rates of birth defects vary across different populations, necessitating localized data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and patterns of congenital malformations in newborns at a tertiary teaching hospital in Rabat, Morocco.
- To provide updated epidemiological data on birth defects in the region.
Main Methods:
- A four-year retrospective descriptive study (January 2011 - December 2014).
- Inclusion of all newborns diagnosed with congenital malformations at birth.
- Analysis of maternal and newborn characteristics using SPSS 13.0.
Main Results:
- A total of 706 newborns had congenital malformations, yielding a prevalence rate of 1.02%.
- The most affected systems were the nervous system (19.4%), musculoskeletal system (14.2%), chromosomal abnormalities (12.3%), and genito-urinary system (10.8%).
- Male newborns (57.9%) exhibited higher rates of malformations than females (40.5%).
Conclusions:
- This study presents recent, detailed data on congenital malformations in Morocco.
- Findings contribute to understanding birth defect patterns in the region, supporting the development of preventive policies.
Abstract:
Congenital malformations are one of the leading causes of neonates and infants' mortality and morbidity. The frequency of these congenital malformations varies in different populations. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence and pattern of congenital malformations in a tertiary teaching hospital in Rabat, Morocco. This four-year retrospective descriptive study was conducted from January 2011 to December 2014. All newborns with congenital malformations diagnosed at birth were included. Mothers and newborn characteristics were analyzed using SPSS 13.0. A total of 706 newborns were noted to have congenital malformation. The prevalence rate was 1.02%. The mean maternal age was 28.8±7.2 years. The mean maternal body mass index was 28.1±6.9 kg/m2. 13.3% of the mothers had a history of abortion. The nervous system was the most affected system (19.4%) followed by the musculoskeletal system (14.2%), the chromosomal abnormalities (12.3%) and the genito-urinary system (10.8%). Males newborns (57.9%) had more congenital malformations than females (40.5%). The rates for live-births, fetal asphyxia and stillbirths were 75.2%, 7.2% and 17.3%, respectively. This retrospective study provides recent and detailed data about congenital malformations in a Moroccan region. The result from this study will contribute to the knowledge of congenital malformations in this particular area and hence the supportive preventive policy.
