Birth Prevalence of Overt Congenital Anomalies in Kano Metropolis: Overt Congenital Anomalies in the Kano

Congenital anomalies are abnormalities of prenatal origin, and their prevalence varies worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and spectrum of overt congenital anomalies in live born neonates in selected hospitals in the Kano metropolis of North western Nigeria, as well as the associated maternal, paternal and neonatal risk factors. A descriptive study design was employed. All live born neonates in three major hospitals in Kano metropolis were prospectively studied from April 2013 to December 2013. Detailed family history and clinical data were recorded in a structured questionnaire for each child. A total of 1456 live born neonates were recruited into the study, of which 41 (28.15 per 1000 live births) had overt congenital malformations with 5 (12.20%) having multiple system involvement and 36 (87.80%) having a single system affectation. The most common system involved in neonates with isolated single system malformations were the central nervous system (10 cases) and the genitourinary system (10 cases). The consanguinity rate in the study was 17.83%. Birth weight of the neonates had a significant but negative association with the likelihood of being born with a congenital malformation [OR = 0.374; (95% CI 0.196 – 0.711) P = 0.003]. Given the high frequency of potentially preventable central nervous system malformations in this study, emphasis on the primary prevention of congenital malformations by encouraging periconceptional use of folic acid containing multivitamin supplements is recommended.