Prenatal detection of birth defects in a Malaysian population: estimation of the influence of termination of pregnancy on birth prevalence in a developing country

Jacqueline J Ho; Meow Keong Thong; Noor Khatijah Nurani

doi:10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00516.x

Prenatal detection of birth defects in a Malaysian population: estimation of the influence of termination of pregnancy on birth prevalence in a developing country

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2006 Feb;46(1):55-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00516.x.

Authors

Jacqueline J Ho¹, Meow Keong Thong, Noor Khatijah Nurani

Affiliation

¹ Paediatric Department, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. jackie@perakmed.edu.my

PMID: 16441696
DOI: 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2006.00516.x

Abstract

We studied 253 women with a pregnancy complicated by a birth defect and 506 controls to determine the frequency and type of prenatal tests and the types of defects detected antenatally. Most women had at least one ultrasound examination, but the frequency of other screening tests was low. Only 38 (15%) of defects were detected antenatally (37 by ultrasound). Birth prevalence is unlikely to be affected by pregnancy termination.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abortion, Induced*
Adult
Case-Control Studies
Congenital Abnormalities / diagnosis*
Congenital Abnormalities / epidemiology*
Congenital Abnormalities / prevention & control
Down Syndrome / diagnosis
Down Syndrome / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Malaysia / epidemiology
Male
Neural Tube Defects / diagnosis
Neural Tube Defects / epidemiology
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis*
Prevalence
Ultrasonography, Prenatal