Berihu Birhane Alem, Mulugeta Afework, Magana Tony, Tessema Masresha, Gebreegziabher Tafere, Berhe Yibrah, Welderufael Abadi Leul, Mekonen Hayelom Kebede
Department of Anatomy, school of medicine, Institute of Biomedical sciences, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Department of nutrition, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Feb 3;25(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07254-3.
The Tigray region of Ethiopia has a significantly high prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs), ranging from 1.31 to 2.15% of total births. The prevalence has worsened due to ongoing regional war and conflict since October 2020. This study aims to assess NTD prevalence in these challenging conditions.
This institution-based, retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted across 11 public hospitals in the Tigray region. The study reviewed all delivery records from October 2020 to December 2023. Data were collected from hospital records, focusing on cases of neural tube defects (NTDs) and relevant maternal and neonatal characteristics. This retrospective analysis aimed to identify the prevalence of NTDs, as well as factors contributing to their occurrence. The data analysis involved using SPSS version 27 for comprehensive data management and statistical evaluation. Descriptive statistics provided an overview of the data, while binary logistic regression offered insights into the factors associated with neural tube defects. The results were systematically presented in both textual, tabular, graph formats to facilitate understanding and interpretation.
Out of 54,626 delivery records, 1,612 cases of NTDs were identified (1,434 NTD cases and 178 isolated hydrocephalus cases). The specific birth prevalence of NTDs was 262.5 per 10,000 (95% CI, 249.1-276.5 per 10,000), with NTDs being the predominant cause of stillbirths. Anencephaly (136.6 per 10,000), spina bifida (110.6 per 10,000) and encephalocele (15.4 per 10,000) were the most common defects. Risk factors for NTDs include maternal age (20-29 years), rural residency, first pregnancies, a history of early neonatal death, lack of folic acid and multivitamin use, as well as neonatal factors like stillbirth, male sex, and preterm birth.
This study reveals the alarmingly high prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the Tigray region, with a birth prevalence of 262.5 per 10,000 births. Anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele were common, contributing to stillbirths. Risk factors include maternal age (20-29), rural residency, first pregnancies, lack of folic acid and multivitamins, and neonatal factors like male sex and preterm birth. The findings stress the need for public health interventions, including folic acid awareness, better prenatal care, maternal nutrition research, stronger health systems, and a national surveillance system to prevent birth defects.
埃塞俄比亚的提格雷地区神经管缺陷（NTDs）的患病率显著偏高，占总出生人数的1.31%至2.15%。自2020年10月以来，由于该地区持续的战争和冲突，患病率有所恶化。本研究旨在评估在这些具有挑战性的条件下神经管缺陷的患病率。
本研究为基于机构的回顾性横断面研究，在提格雷地区的11家公立医院开展。该研究回顾了2020年10月至2023年12月期间所有的分娩记录。数据从医院记录中收集，重点关注神经管缺陷（NTDs）病例以及相关的孕产妇和新生儿特征。这项回顾性分析旨在确定神经管缺陷的患病率以及导致其发生的因素。数据分析使用SPSS 27版进行全面的数据管理和统计评估。描述性统计提供了数据的概述，而二元逻辑回归则深入分析了与神经管缺陷相关的因素。结果以文本、表格、图表形式系统呈现，以便于理解和解读。
在54,626份分娩记录中，共识别出1,612例神经管缺陷病例（1,434例神经管缺陷病例和178例单纯性脑积水病例）。神经管缺陷的具体出生患病率为每10,000例中有262.5例（95%置信区间，每10,000例中249.1 - 276.5例），神经管缺陷是死产的主要原因。无脑儿（每10,000例中有136.6例）、脊柱裂（每10,000例中有110.6例）和脑膨出（每10,000例中有15.4例）是最常见的缺陷。神经管缺陷的风险因素包括产妇年龄（20 - 29岁）、农村居住、初孕、早期新生儿死亡史、缺乏叶酸和多种维生素的使用，以及死产、男性性别和早产等新生儿因素。
本研究揭示了提格雷地区神经管缺陷（NTDs）的患病率高得惊人，出生患病率为每10,000例中有262.5例。无脑儿、脊柱裂和脑膨出很常见，是死产的原因之一。风险因素包括产妇年龄（20 - 29岁）、农村居住、初孕、缺乏叶酸和多种维生素，以及男性性别和早产等新生儿因素。研究结果强调了公共卫生干预的必要性，包括提高叶酸意识、改善产前护理、开展孕产妇营养研究、加强卫生系统以及建立全国监测系统以预防出生缺陷。
