Risk factors for birth defects: Data from the Atlanta Birth Defects Case-Control Study

Background: Although major external structural birth defects continue to occur globally, the greatest burden is shouldered by resource-constrained countries with no surveillance systems. To our knowledge, many studies have been published on risk factors for major external structural birth defects, however, limited studies have been published in developing countries. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for major external structural birth defects among children in Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was used to identify the risk factors for major external structural birth defects. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information retrospectively on maternal exposure to environmental teratogens, multifactorial inheritance, and sociodemographic-environmental factors during the study participants' last pregnancies. Descriptive analyses (means, standard deviations, medians, and ranges) were used to summarize continuous variables, whereas categorical variables were summarized as proportions and percentages in frequency tables. Afterward, logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of the predictors on the odds of major external structural birth defects in the country. Results: Women who conceived when residing in Ruiru sub-county (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 5.28; 95% CI: 1.68-16.58; P<0.01), and Thika sub-county (aOR: 0.27; 95% CI; 0.076-0.95; P =0.04); and preceding siblings with history of birth defects (aOR: 7.65; 95% CI; 1.46-40.01; P =0.02) were identified as the significant predictors of major external structural birth defects in the county. Conclusions: These findings pointed to MESBDs of genetic, multifactorial inheritance, and sociodemographic-environmental etiology. Thus, we recommend regional defect-specific surveillance programs, public health preventive measures, and treatment strategies to understand the epidemiology and economic burden of these defects in Kenya. We specifically recommend the integration of clinical genetic services with routine reproductive health services because of potential maternal genetic predisposition in the region.

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Risk Factors and Complications of Newborns with Birth Defect: A Hospital based Case-Control Study

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science ◽

10.3329/bjms.v19i1.43886 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 133-140

Author(s):

Sharmin Afroze ◽

MA Mannan ◽

Sanjoy Kumer Dey ◽

Sadeka Choudhury Moni ◽

Mohammad Kamrul Hassan Shabuj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Defects ◽

Birth Defect ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Conditional Logistic Regression ◽

Medical Science ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Case Control ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Control Study

Background: Birth defect is one of the most important causes of neonatal mortality worldwide. In a developing country like Bangladesh many possible factors for birth defects are present which should be identified. This study was performed to determine those risk factors of birth defect and complications associated with it. Materials and Methods: A hospital based matched case-control study was conducted from August 2015 to July 2016 in department of Neonatology along with Obstetrics and Gynecology at BSMMU. A total of 98 mother-infant pair (49 babies with birth defect as cases and 49 healthy babies without any birth defects as controls) was included in the study. For each case, a gestational age, sex and post-natal age matched control was taken. Data was collected by face to face interview. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression models were computed to examine the effect of independent variables on outcome variable using SPSS 23.0. Variables with p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The mean (± SD) birth weight for cases and controls were 2718.37 (±756.9) grams, and 2617.14 (±978.8) grams respectively. Cardiovascular system was the predominant system (21%) involved in birth defects. Maternal age between 20-29 years (AOR: 4.69; 95% CI 1.078, 20.448), less than four antenatal care visits (AOR: 10.07; 95% CI 2.816, 36.0), no multivitamin intake (AOR: 7.38; 95% CI 1.791, 30.365) and presence of maternal diabetes (AOR: 0.194; 95% CI 0.047, 0.799) were significantly associated with birth defects among newborns. Sepsis, asphyxia, hypoglycemia and dyselectrolytemia were the most prevalent problems among these babies. The need of intravenous fluid, thermal care, antibiotics and mechanical ventilation was also high among the cases. Conclusion: Birth defect is an upcoming issue in current newborn health situation which need to be prioritized. Significant risk factors should be addressed timely for early diagnosis and proper management of these babies can help in reduction of mortality. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(1) 2020 p.133-140

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Risk factors for major external structural birth defects among children in Kiambu County, Kenya: a case-control study

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.50738.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

George N. Agot ◽

Marshal M. Mweu ◽

Joseph K. Wang'ombe

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Defects ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Continuous Variables ◽

History Of ◽

Control Study

Background: Although major external structural birth defects continue to occur globally, the greatest burden is shouldered by resource-constrained countries largely with no surveillance systems. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have been published on the risk factors for these defects in developing countries. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for major external structural birth defects among children in Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was used to identify the risk factors for major external structural birth defects in Kiambu County. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information retrospectively on exposure to environmental teratogens, multifactorial inheritance, and sociodemographic-environmental factors during the study participants' last pregnancies. Descriptive analyses (means, standard deviations, medians, and ranges) were used to summarize continuous variables, whereas, categorical variables were summarized as proportions and percentages in frequency tables. Afterward, logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of the predictors on major external structural birth defects in the county. Results: From the multivariable analyses, maternal age ≤34 years old, (aOR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.18-0.91; P=0.03), and preceding siblings with history of birth defects (aOR: 5.21; 95% CI; 1.35-20.12; P =0.02) were identified as the significant predictors of major external structural birth defects. Conclusions: Maternal age ≥35 years old, and siblings with a history of birth defects were identified as the risk factors for major external structural birth defects in Kiambu County, Kenya. This pointed to a need to create awareness among couples against delaying childbearing beyond 35 years of age and the need for clinical genetic services for women of reproductive age with history of births affected by congenital anomalies.

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