title: Neural tube defects in Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: During December 1987 to December 1990 the incidence of neural tube defects in the Asir region located in southwestern Saudi Arabia was 0.82/1000. These results were drawn from a survey conducted of all cases of neural tube defects referred to the main hospital at Abha City (Asir Central Hospital) (ACH). Anencephaly was seen in 0.43/1000 births, spina bifida cystica 0.33/1000, and encephalocele 0.08/1000 births. The only comparable results to ours from Saudi Arabia were reported in 1986 by Thaliji et al [7] from the eastern province who found the overall incidence of neural tube defects to be 1.6/1000, anencephaly 1/1000, spina bifida 0.33/1000, and encephalocele 0.29/1000. The overall incidence of neural tube defects, anencephaly and encephalocele found in our survey was significantly lower (P<0.05) while the incidence of spina bifida remained the same (P>0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M el-H
authors.initials: Mel-H
authors.lastname: El-Awad
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivasankaran