Rahele Alijahan - MSc of Midwifery, Healthcare Center, Ardabil, Iran
Mehrdad Mirzarahimi - Assistant professor, Community Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
Peimaneh Ahmadi - Bachelor of midwifery, clerk of Ardabil District Health Center, Ardabil, Iran
Sadegh Hazrati - Assistant professor, School of Public Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Congenital anomalies are the most common cause of disability in developed and developing countries. Costs of hospitalization and treatment of congenital anomalies pose a significant burden to families and societies. The objective of the present study was to determine the associated risk factors and prevalence of congenital malformations in Ardabil, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during November ۲۰۱۰ and July ۲۰۱۱ in three maternity hospitals, located in Ardabil, Iran. All live newborns were examined during the first ۲۴ hours of life. Out of ۶,۸۶۸ live births during the study period, ۵۷ neonates with congenital malformations were selected as the case group and ۱۸۰ normal neonates were included as the control group. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and prenatal and delivery records. Data were entered to SPSS version ۱۱, and statistical analysis was performed, using Chi-square along with univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: The prevalence of congenital malformations was ۸.۲ per ۱,۰۰۰ live births.  Musculoskeletal system malformation was the most common congenital abnormality (۳۵.۱%), followed by central nervous system disorders (۲۲.۸%), digestive system disorders (۱۷.۵%), urogenital system diseases (۱۵.۸%), and chromosomal anomalies (۸.۸%).  Also, polyhydramnion (P=۰.۰۰۱, OR=۱۴.۴, CI:۳.۰۷-۶۸.۰), oligohydramnios (P=۰.۰۰۹, OR=۱۳.۰۹, CI:۱.۹-۸۹.۰), preeclampsia (P=۰.۰۰۰, OR=۱۱.۳۷, CI:۲.۹۹-۴۳.۱۴), unwanted pregnancy (P=۰.۰۰۰, OR=۴.۹, CI:۲.۰-۱۳.۰)), urinary tract infection in weeks ۶-۱۰ of pregnancy (P=۰.۰۴۵, OR=۲.۸۸, CI:۱.۰-۱۸.۱۱), and consanguinity (P=۰.۰۳۸, OR=۲.۲۳, CI:۱.۰-۴.۷۸) were determined as risk factors for congenital malformations. Conclusion:Early diagnostic survey of pregnant women with polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, preeclampsia, unwanted pregnancy, urinary tract infection in weeks ۶-۱۰ of pregnancy, and consanguinity may be an appropriate solution toward the prevention of congenital anomalies.

Congenital malformations, Newborn, Prevalence, Risk factors