Epidemiology and Control of Congenital Anomalies: a pilot programme in the Northwest of Iran

Introduction: Occurrence of congenital anomalies varies between different countries and areas ranging from 2 to 10 percent of births. They are a leading cause of perinatal mortality and childhood morbidity and disability in many countries. This is an ongoing project aiming to establish a monitoring system of congenital anomalies in the Northwest of Iran, and to implement control and preventive tasks in the region.

Design and Population: Our program covers about 15 000 births (per year) in the defined area with about 300 (average per year) cases of congenital anomalies born with one of the anomalies in the population. The definition of the congenital anomalies for the purposes of this program is based on the standard coding system of the International Classification of Diseases and British Pediatric Association under one of the main headings according to the primary diagnosis of anomaly.

Results: Total prevalence of congenital anomalies was 1.6 per 100 births. Genito-urinary tract and kidney defects ,anomalies of nervous system and limb anomalies accounted proportionally for more than 65 percent of anomalies in the region. There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of congenital anomalies in the study area from 2000 to 2006. This trend was not however statistically significant. Following the epidemiological study; high risk individuals, groups and families are identified. Interventional programs including educational packages and genetic counseling are then implemented in the study population.

Conclusion: Our program provides some essential data as an epidemiological tool for local investigations, information for health service planners, clinicians and for genetic counseling. It may also help to identify regional interventions that could help to prevent and control congenital anomalies in the study population. Some of these interventions may be specific to the study population whilst others may have more general applications.

Congenital Anomalies - Control - Epidemiology - Prevention