The Prevalence of Birth Defects and related Factors in Zanjan City (Northwest, Iran) during ۲۰۱۵–۲۰۱۶

Background and Objective: Regional differences exist in the prevalence of birth defects. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and related factors with birth defects in Zanjan, Iran. Material and Methods: This descriptive analytic study was performed in Zanjan province during ۲۰۱۵–۲۰۱۶. Data included ۴۱۲۶۵ child births, which were extracted from the Iranian Mother and Newborn (IMAN) web system report of the Zanjan province hospitals (country electronic childbirth register system). Data was analyzed using descriptive, uni-variate, and multi-variate logistic regression tests. Results: The prevalence of birth defects in Zanjan was ۰.۷%. Gestational age (odds ratio [OR]: ۰.۹۱۷, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۸۶۹–۰.۹۶۷, P =۰.۰۰۲) and birth weight (OR=۰.۹۹۹, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۹۹۹ – ۱.۰۰۰, P< ۰.۰۰۱) reduced the chance of birth defects, while consanguineous marriage of parents (OR: ۱.۷۴۵, CI ۹۵%: ۱.۲۹۸–۲.۳۴۷, P< ۰.۰۰۱), and mother’s doctoral degree increased its prevalence (OR: ۳.۹۲۸, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۰۵۸–۱۴.۵۸۴, P =۰.۰۴۱). Conclusion: It seems that premarital counseling, screening tests before and during pregnancy, and education, especially for being pregnant in appropriate age and conditions, could be the suitable approaches for reducing the birth defects

Keywords:

Congenital Abnormalities , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Iran