Babgi Mohammed A, Al-Jifree Hatim M, AlShehri Omar A, Khan Muhammad A, Khogeer Ahmad N, Alqurashi Mansour A
College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2019;12(2):195-201. doi: 10.3233/NPM-17165.
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most common congenital anomalies worldwide with an incidence of 300,000/year. Spina bifida, which is the most prevalent NTD, has an incidence of 1.2/1000 live births in Saudi Arabia. Our study aimed to assess the awareness of NTDs and the implementation of preventative measures against them. In addition, to gauge public opinion regarding abortion following early diagnosis of NTDs.
This was a cross-sectional study in which questionnaires were distributed using non-probability convenient sampling technique and data was collected in a face-to-face interview. Subjects were approached in an outpatient clinic and in a shopping mall in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia.
Out of 353 subjects, 35.7% were males, 64.3% females (33% pregnant), and the median age was 34 (IQR = 14) years. Of subjects, 66.3% were not aware of NTDs, and regarding folic acid 54% believed that it helps in preventing NTDs, and only 25% agreed on starting it before pregnancy. However, only 19% agreed on all points, which even dropped to 9% after considering planned pregnancies. Gender differences were extremely significant (p-value <0.001) as females were more aware. Interestingly, 62% would abort in early-diagnosed NTD cases. Of pregnant women, only 20% started taking folic acid before pregnancy.
The data shows that the majority of the study's population are in favor of terminating the pregnancy in justified NTD cases. There is a need for increasing public awareness, especially to males, and should be provided through all channels of knowledge.
神经管缺陷（NTDs）是全球最常见的先天性异常之一，每年发病率为30万例。脊柱裂是最常见的神经管缺陷，在沙特阿拉伯的发病率为每1000例活产中有1.2例。我们的研究旨在评估对神经管缺陷的认识以及针对它们的预防措施的实施情况。此外，还要了解在神经管缺陷早期诊断后关于堕胎的公众意见。
这是一项横断面研究，采用非概率便利抽样技术分发问卷，并通过面对面访谈收集数据。研究对象是在沙特阿拉伯吉达市的一家门诊诊所和一个购物中心接触到的。
在353名研究对象中，35.7%为男性，64.3%为女性（33%为孕妇），中位年龄为34岁（四分位间距=14岁）。在研究对象中，66.3%不知道神经管缺陷，关于叶酸，54%的人认为它有助于预防神经管缺陷，只有25%的人同意在怀孕前开始服用。然而，只有19%的人在所有方面都表示同意，在考虑计划怀孕后这一比例甚至降至9%。性别差异极为显著（p值<0.001），因为女性的知晓率更高。有趣的是，62%的人会在神经管缺陷早期诊断的情况下选择堕胎。在孕妇中，只有20%在怀孕前开始服用叶酸。
数据显示，该研究中的大多数人群支持在合理的神经管缺陷病例中终止妊娠。有必要提高公众意识，特别是对男性的意识，并且应该通过所有知识渠道来提供相关信息。
