[Comparative evaluation of the frequency of congenital defects in newborns from the provinces of Walbrzych, Piotrkow Trybunalski and Suwalki].

The aim of the study was the assessment of congenital defect frequency in 11,869 neonates born between December 1994 and July 1995 in three provinces of Poland: Wałbrzych, Piotrków Trybunalski and Suwałki. The percentage of neonates with congenital defects ranged from 1.9% in a typically industrial area (Wałbrzych) to 1.2% in a mainly rural area (Suwałki), and 1.1% in a rather industrial area (Piotrków Trybunalski). The majority of single defects consisted of anomalies of limbs and musculoskeletal deformities. Smoking habits and professional activities of mothers did not exert a clear influence on the frequency of birth defects. Only among newborns from the province of Piotrków Trybunalski who were born by young mothers (< 20 years of age) we observed a higher frequency of congenital defects in comparison with older mothers of 20-34 years old group.