# Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies and Its Associated Factors Among Newborns in Central Ethiopia Region Public Hospitals, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Study, 2023

## TL;DR

This study found that 27 out of every 1000 newborns in Central Ethiopia had congenital anomalies, with risk factors including rural residence, lack of education, and pesticide exposure.

## Contribution

The study identifies key risk factors for congenital anomalies in Central Ethiopia using a large retrospective dataset.

## Key findings

- The overall birth prevalence of congenital anomalies was 27 per 1000 births.
- Rural residence and lack of maternal education were strongly associated with higher risk of congenital anomalies.
- Exposure to pesticides and lack of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy also increased the risk.

## Abstract

A congenital anomaly (CA) is an anatomical, physiological, and metabolic defect of newborns that might be recognized during pregnancy, delivery, or later in life. CAs are structural and/or functional defects that have a significant physical, metabolic, mental, and developmental health of the child, as well as affected social and cosmetic consequences for the child, and require surgery or medical treatment.

An institution‐based retrospective cross‐sectional study was done among 3427 newborn mother registration charts. Data were collected using pretested, structured questionnaires by chart review, which was coded, checked, and entered into EpiData software version 4.6, then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science software version 25 for further analysis. Bivariable analysis was done to see the crude significant relation of each independent variable with the dependent variable. p values at <0.25 during the bivariable analysis were entered into multivariable analysis to see the net effect of confounding variables. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Finally, the variable p value <0.05 was declared as statistically significant.

The overall birth prevalence of CAs was 27 per 1000 births. The most commonly observed anomalies included central nervous system, orofacial clefts, and Down syndrome, with prevalence of 13, 8, and 7 per 1000 births, respectively. Factors significantly associated with CAs were rural area reside (AOR: 5.2, 95% CI: 1.98–13.68), women with no formal education (AOR: 7.8, 95% CI: 2.93–20.98), history of CAs (AOR: 3.08, 95% CI: 1.28–7.38), exposure of pesticide (AOR: 8.9, 95% CI: 3.54–22.63), and lack of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy (AOR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.17–5.43).

CAs remain a substantial public health concern in the Central Ethiopia region. Strengthening antenatal care services, promoting periconceptional folic acid supplementation, and minimizing maternal exposure to environmental risk factors may reduce the prevalence.