Prevalence of apparent major congenital malformations and some associated factors, in terminated pregnancies in Hajar hospital of Shahrekord, 2005-2006, Iran

Congenital malformations are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and long term disability in infants. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of apparent major congenital malformations and some associated factors in terminated pregnancies in Hajar hospital of Shahrekord in 2005-2006. In this cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study, a total of 2854 pregnant women with gestation age of 16 weeks or more who referred to the hospital for termination of pregnancy or delivery was enrolled and interviewed using structured questionnaires. Congenital malformation and other information about their newborns were obtained from hospital chart. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, x2, T student and logistic regression model. Congenital malformation was observed in 72 of 2854 (2.5%) of the neonates studied. The most common congenital malformation was neural tube defects (19.8%). There was significant relationship between herbal drug use in first trimester (P<0.001), chronic diseases)P<0.01) environmental smoke (P<0.05), history of malformation in close relationships (P<0.05), proximity to power station (P<0.001) and trauma (P<0.05). But there was not significant association with maternal and paternal age, parity, gestational age, sex and number of newborn, maternal and paternal jobs, high fever in first trimester, treatment of infertility, problem in pregnancy and congenital malformation. The present study showed a high prevalence of congenital malformation among our population. Therefore, primary preventive programs could be initiated to reduce congenital malformation particularly education of pregnant women to avoid herbal, synthetic drugs, and environmental smoke.