The Prevalence of Major Congenital Anomalies Among Live Births in Birjand, Iran: A Cross-sectional Study Between 2018 - 2022

Abstract

Background: Congenital anomalies (CAs) significantly contribute to neonatal mortality and long-term disabilities. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of major CAs among live births in Birjand, Iran. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence of major congenital anomalies among live births in Birjand, Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 45,281 neonates from 2018 to 2022 using census sampling. Each neonate underwent a clinical examination, and data were collected using a researcher-designed checklist. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: Out of 65 cases, the most common anomalies were cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system anomalies, with 18, 16, and 15 cases, respectively. No significant association was found between the presence of anomalies and neonatal gender (P = 0.28), maternal nationality (P = 0.35), maternal age (P = 0.39), gestational age (P = 0.08), or birth season (P = 0.09). Conclusions: A significant association was found with maternal residence (P < 0.001), with rural mothers having a higher rate of anomalies (0.38%) compared to urban mothers (0.10%). The prevalence of CAs was 14.3 per 10,000 live births, which is lower than in other regions of Iran.