Introduction: Congenital anomalies are an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Data on their prevalence and pattern remain limited because many studies exclude stillbirths and medically terminated pregnancies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of congenital anomalies and describe the maternal demographic and obstetric characteristics, mode of anomaly detection, and pregnancy outcomes at a tertiary care center. Materials and methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G. Nagara, Karnataka, India, from February 2025 to January 2026. All deliveries, including live births, stillbirths, and medically terminated pregnancies with documented fetal congenital anomalies, were screened. Maternal demographic and obstetric characteristics, antenatal findings, congenital anomaly patterns, mode of detection, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies and percentages. Results: Among 1,878 deliveries and medically terminated pregnancies screened, congenital anomalies were identified in 47 (2.5%) cases. Central nervous system anomalies were the most common, followed by circulatory and gastrointestinal anomalies. Most anomalies were detected antenatally by ultrasonography (37 (78.7%)). Medical termination of pregnancy was the most frequent outcome (31 (66.0%)), followed by stillbirth (10 (21.3%)) and live birth (6 (12.8%)). Most affected pregnancies occurred among women aged 26-30 years, multigravida mothers, and those diagnosed between 21 and 25 weeks of gestation. Previous spontaneous abortion was the most frequently observed maternal characteristic. Conclusion: Congenital anomalies remain an important contributor to adverse pregnancy outcomes in tertiary care settings. Comprehensive antenatal screening, timely referral, adequate periconceptional folic acid supplementation, and inclusion of medically terminated pregnancies in congenital anomaly surveillance programs are essential to improve early diagnosis, counselling, and preventive strategies.
Pukale et al. (Mon,) studied this question.