Evaluating the pre-, peri- and post-natal conditions of neonates affected by multiple congenital anomalies: a brief report

Abstract

Background: Neonatal deaths stand for almost two-thirds of all deaths occurring in infants under one year of age. Congenital anomalies are responsible for 24.5% of these cases forming a highly important issue for health policy-makers.Methods: We studied the pre-, peri- and post-natal conditions of 77 patients with multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) through genetic counseling at Several university Hospitals, in Tehran, Iran. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The patients did not have a good prognosis, demonstrating the need for the diagnosis of such diseases early in pregnancy to be of utmost importance. We screened for trisomy and nuchal translucency, which the first showed a low risk and the second showed normal results in most cases.Conclusion: Establishment of standards for prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies and monitoring their implementation seem to be necessary for the reduction of deaths due to congenital anomalies and infant mortality rate (IMR).

Keywords

• congenital anomalies
• infant mortality rate
• neonatal mortality rate
• nuchal translucency measurement
• neonates
• prenatal screening