Folate intake and the percentage of birth defects in babel gynaecology and pediatrics teaching hospital

Abstract EN

Back ground: Folic acid deficiency has been studied as one of the factors responsible for congenital birth defects.

Aim of study : To determine the relation between poor folic acid supplement & percentage of birth defects.

Patients & methods: the study was conducted in Babel Teaching Hospital for Gynaecology & Paediatrics from January 2008 to June 2008.

Sixty pregnant women were enrolled, exclusion criteria included those with risk factors for congenital anomalies such as those with diabetes mellitus or those taking anti-epileptic medications.

After labour & delivery newborn babies were examined for any birth defects & registration of them if any exist.

Results: twenty percent of women under study were compliant with folic acid intake where as (38.33%) had poor compliance & (41.67%) did not take folic acid at all.

The relative risk of birth defects in women with no folic acid supplement was approximately 2.

the most common birth defect was anencephaly (42.8%) followed by hydrocephaly & meningocele (28.6%).

Conclusions& recommendations: folic acid deficiency is associated with increased risk of birth defects especially neural tube defects.

We recommend that women of child bearing age should take folic acid supplement to decrease the risk of congenital birth defect, this will need more awareness of these women by using mass media & other educational resources to encourage folic acid intake.