A Retrospective Study of Congenital Anomalies Presented at Tertiary Health Facilities in Jos, Nigeria

Early developmental stages are particularly susceptible to disruption because this is the period for organogenesis. This refers to the 4th to 8th weeks of development. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of congenital anomalies presenting in tertiary health facilities in Jos and any association between the anomalies. A retrospective study of 200 cases of congenital anomalies that presented at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist Hospital Jos-Nigeria was carried out. The data was collected from the Special Care Baby Unit of the health facilities and covered the period between January 1998 and December 2005. Anomalies of the gastrointestinal system had the highest incidence with 61 cases (30.5%); central nervous system abnormalities showed 49 cases (24.5%), skeletal system, 16 cases (8.0%), cardiovascular system, 15 (7.5%), urogenital system 10 (5.0%), chromosomal anomalies, 15 (7.5%), cutaneous system 4 (2.0%), metabolic disorders, 3 (1.5%) whereas 27 cases (13.5%) presented with multiple anomalies. There was no association found between the occurrences of the various congenital anomalies. The Health facilities in Jos metropolis showed various cases of congenital anomalies involving many organ systems. To reduce mortality rate therefore, it is important that careful examination of newborns be carried out inorder to detect (and correct) early cases of congenital anomalies.