title: Epidemiology of congenital abnormalities in West Africa: Results of a descriptive study in teaching hospitals in Abidjan: Cote d'Ivoire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital abnormalities constitute one of the major causes of infant mortality, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of congenital anomalies in Cote d'Ivoire.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a multicentric study of three academic hospitals and the Heart Institute of Abidjan over 10 years. The epidemiologic Data concerned the Parturients, the annual frequency of congenital abnormalities. Distribution of the congenital abnormalities according to the organs, overall mortality and lethality of congenital abnormalities were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 10 years, 1.632 newborns with 1.725 congenital anomalies were recorded. Frequency was 172.5 congenital anomalies per annum. Parturients were less than 35 years in 33% of cases, multigravida in 20%, multiparous in 18% and had a low socio economic status in 96% of cases. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies was performed in 1.5%. Congenital anomalies were orthopedic in 34%, neurological in 17%, gastrointestinal in 15%, facial in 11.5%, parietal in 13%, urogenital in 9% and cardiac in 0.5% of cases. The overall mortality rate of congenital anomalies was 52% and gastroschisis was the most lethal disease with 100% mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This descriptive study reveals the low socio economic status of Parturients with congenital anomalies and their poor prenatal diagnosis. These factors explain the very high mortality of congenital anomalies due to a delay management in our country in which medical expenses were borne by parents and where technical platforms remain obsoletes for good resuscitation and neonatal surgery.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Yopougon, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
authors: Bertin Dibi
authors: BD
authors: Kouame
authors: Isabelle Ama
authors: IA
authors: N'guetta-Brou
authors: Guy Serge Yapo
authors: GS
authors: Kouame
authors: Moufidath
authors: M
authors: Sounkere
authors: Maxime
authors: M
authors: Koffi
authors: Jean Baptiste
authors: JB
authors: Yaokreh
authors: Thierry
authors: T
authors: Odehouri-Koudou
authors: Samba
authors: S
authors: Tembely
authors: Gaudens Atafi
authors: GA
authors: Dieth
authors: Ossenou
authors: O
authors: Ouattara
authors: Ruffin
authors: R
authors: Dick
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors