Major congenital malformations among Saudi infants admitted to Asir Central Hospital.

While infections and malnutrition are the dominant causes of infant morbidity and mortality in the poorer countries of the world, 1 in the developed countries these causes are cancer, accidents and congenital malformations. 2,3 In Saudi Arabia, a rich and fast-developing nation with a very effective expanded program on immunization, childhood malnutrition has virtually been eradicated and infection is fast disappearing; and therefore, congenital malformations, accidents and cancer will rank as the major childhood health problems.