Spatial Epidemiologic Analysis of Fetal Birth Defects in Guangxi, China
Zhenren Peng1,2,3,4,5, Xiuning Huang4,5, Jie Wei4,5
1Birth Defects Research Laboratory, Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Birth Defects, Nanning, 530002, People's Republic of China.
International Journal of General Medicine
|June 19, 2025
Summary
Birth defects (BDs) show clear spatial trends and clusters in Guangxi, China. Higher education, income, and diabetes in pregnant women are linked to increased BD prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Spatial Analysis
- Public Health
Background:
- Birth defects (BDs) represent a significant global health concern.
- Understanding the geographical distribution and risk factors of BDs is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze spatial trends and identify geographical clusters of birth defect prevalence in Guangxi, China.
- To investigate potential risk factors associated with birth defects in the region.
Main Methods:
- Utilized spatial epidemiological approaches including kriging interpolation, spatial autocorrelation, and spatial regression.
- Analyzed data from the Guangxi Birth Defects Monitoring Network (GXBDMN) covering 4.57 million fetuses from 2016 to 2022.
Main Results:
- Identified significant spatial autocorrelation in BD prevalence at the county level.
- Revealed High-High and Low-Low clustering patterns, with High-High clusters shifting towards Nanning.
- Found statistically significant associations between BD prevalence and higher education levels, increased family income, and maternal pre-gestational or gestational diabetes mellitus.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated evident spatial trends and clustering of birth defects in Guangxi.
- Highlighted increasing BD prevalence linked to socioeconomic factors and maternal diabetes.
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