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Congenital deformities in newborn linked to mother’s health: KGMU study
Factors such as marriages within same (extended) families, diabetes, hypertension, gestational diabetes and uncontrolled sugar levels among mothers have been linked to congenital deformities,” said Dr Shalini Tripathi of the KGMU, who guided the study.
Health issues among mothers have been found to contribute to congenital deformities among newborn, according to study done by the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).
“IN 2019 we collected data of 7000 deliveries that took place at Queen Mary’s hospital. We found that in 94 (1.3%) of these babies were born with congenital deformity. Factors such as marriages within same (extended) families, diabetes, hypertension, gestational diabetes and uncontrolled sugar levels among mothers have been linked to congenital deformities,” said Dr Shalini Tripathi of the KGMU, who guided the study.
The common congenital deformities among newborn were clubfoot, cleft palate, spina bifida (a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly) and even heart defect. The team of doctors studied the relation between children born with deformity and the health condition of the mother during pregnancy.
The report compiled on the basis of the study has been published in the International journal ‘Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health.’
Dr Tripathi said that out of 7000 births in a year, 94 were born with deformity, which was a considerable number, keeping in view the population of the state and country.
“Though reasons for heart defect are not specific but diabetes has been found common among mothers who delivered children with heart ailment. Lack of folic acid was found connected to spine bifida. Especially the birth defect in the spine (spina bifida) and congenital heart defects had poor outcome,” said Dr Tripathi.
She said, “Apart from reasons such as marriage within family, missing antenatal check-ups, and iron deficiency were also found among mothers who delivered children with birth deformity. “50% of the parents, who have such children, leave hospital soon after delivery without consulting doctor on how these deformities can be corrected,” she said.
Deformity such as club foot and cleft palate can be corrected with medical procedures.
“It is significant that all pregnancies get screened for possible birth defects keeping in view these factors,” said Dr Tripathi, who is a nodal officer of birth registry under the WHO South East Asia Region.
