Burden of birth defects in a war and siege-affected region: a retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study from Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia.

This study highlights a substantial burden of structural birth defects in the conflict-affected Tigray Region, Ethiopia. The findings underscore the urgent need to improve access to ANC and periconceptional folate supplementation. Future research should explore the role of environmental, nutritional and genetic factors in the observed rise in congenital anomalies.