DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i09.022

Pages: 3249-3252

A birth defect is described as a structural of functional deformity which is present since birth. Birth defects accounts for a significant cause of infant mortality and morbidity that has a formidable impact in low resource countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) gives an estimate of at least 3.3 million of under-five year children dying from serious genetic or partly genetic birth defects and 3.2 million of those who survive may be disabled for life that exert a high economic toll on those affected, their families and their communities. Several maternal factors have been implicated as causative factors of birth defects. The present observational study was conducted at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital to determine the prevalence of birth defects along with the various maternal factors associated with them. In our study we found that the prevalence of birth defects was 86.3/10000 live births. We observed that unwanted pregnancies without any antenatal check-up, maternal diabetes, PIH, fever were important factors associated with an increased incidence of birth defects. It was also observed that mothers who had not received folic acid supplementation formed a significant group of cases with birth defects. Thus proper antenatal care to prevent these maternal factors can go a long way to prevent birth disorders and thus reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with birth defects.