Distribution of congenital malformations at birth in a tertiary care hospital in North-Western Rajasthan

Background: A significant number of neonates are born with congenital anomalies. It is one of the leading cause of neonatal/infant mortality worldwide. The morbidity and disability experienced by surviving children and their parents also has major public health impact. This study was planned to find incidence of such birth defects and their system wise distribution.Methods: This was an observational prospective study during one year period from Jan 2012 to Dec 2012 in Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, PBM Medical college Hospital, Bikaner (Rajasthan).Results: Out of total 13,614 consecutive live/still births, 167 neonates were found to have congenital malformations. The overall incidence being 1.23% (12.3/1000 births). Commonest (53.3%) anomalies were of CNS followed by other systems.Conclusions: This study was an effort to find frequency and distribution pattern of congenital malformations at birth in a tertiary care centre of North –Western Rajasthan. CNS was found to be the commonest site of such defects followed by cleft lip and palate and others.