Prevalence, Pattern and Outcome of Congenital Anomalies among Babies Admitted in a Neonatal Unit in Southern Nigeria

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, pattern and outcome of congenital anomalies among neonates admitted in the neonatal unit of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Special Care Baby Unit of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital over a three-year period from 1st June 2018 to 31st May 2021.

Methodology: A questionnaire was used to collect data on the babies with congenital anomalies from their mothers/caregivers. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Fishers’ Exact test was adopted to determine the association between some congenital anomalies and the variables.

Results: The prevalence of congenital anomalies in the study period was 5.5%, more preponderant among males 48(50.5%), term babies 56(58.9%) and among singleton pregnancies 82(86.3%). Most of the anomalies were major defects 66(69.5%), occurred more frequently in the musculoskeletal system 36 (33%), cardiovascular (13.8%) and urogenital systems (13.8%). Hypertension (30.3%) and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy were the commonest complications of pregnancy found among mothers whose babies had congenital anomalies. Seven (7.4%) babies with birth anomalies died in the study. There was no significant association of sex, gestational age, birth weight with congenital anomalies (P value > .05).

Conclusion: The prevalence of congenital anomalies in this study was low being 5.5%. Although majority of the babies had major defects, the neonatal outcome was fair with mortality of 7.4%.