Easily Identifiable Congenital Malformations in Children: Survey of Incidence and Pattern in 32,332 Live Born Neonates

Over a period of two years, 32,332 live-born infants were screened for the presence of identifiable congenital malformations. Congenital anomalies were present in 2.38% of all infants; major and minor malformations were present in 79% and 21% of the cases, respectively. Anomalies in general and chromosomal anomalies in particular were more common in multiparous women of advanced age. Anatomical organs most frequently affected were musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems; talipes, chromosomal anomalies and congenital cardiac defects being the most common. The incidence of congenital anomalies in infants of diabetic mothers was 13.8% compared with 3% in the non-diabetic population (P=<0.01); multiple anomalies were present in 50% of the cases. Of a total of 770 infants born with malformations, 58 died during the early neonatal period with a mortality rate of 7.5% compared with an overall early neonatal death rate of 11.8/1000 live births.