title: A description of congenital anomalies among infants in Entebbe, Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on congenital anomalies from developing countries of the sub-Saharan region are scarce. However, it is important to have comprehensive and reliable data on the description and prevalence of congenital anomalies to allow surveillance and the implementation of appropriate public health strategies for prevention and management. In this study, we describe the profile of congenital anomalies seen in a birth cohort in Entebbe, Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  Congenital anomalies were defined as any structural defect present at birth. Pregnant women were recruited to the cohort between 2003 and 2005. Defects present at birth were recorded by the midwife at delivery and by physicians at the routine six-week postnatal visit and at illness-related visits until 1 year of life. The anomalies were classified by organ system according to the 10th version of the World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 180 infants with a congenital anomaly among 2365 births. The most commonly affected systems were the musculoskeletal (42.7 per 1000 births) and skin (16.1 per 1000 births). The prevalence of major anomalies was 20.3 per 1000 births; 1.7 per 1000 births for cardiac anomalies and 1.3 per 1000 births for neural system anomalies. Forty (22%) of the congenital anomalies were identified at birth, 131 (73%) at the 6-week postnatal visit, and nine (5%) at illness-related visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Congenital anomalies are common in developing countries. Establishment of comprehensive databases for surveillance would be helpful for surveillance of effects of new exposures, for prevention, management, and health care planning.
authors.affiliation: MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda. Juliet.Ndibazza@mrcuganda.org
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ndibazza
authors.forename: Swaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lule
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nampijja
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mpairwe
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oduru
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiggundu
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akello
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muhangi
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology