Abstract

 The leading cause of global burden of disease and the major contributor to infant mortality have been found to have congenital abnormalities with 11.3% of neonatal deaths caused by congenital anomalies that may result in long-term disabilities (Saus et al., 2017).

The research project has led her to evaluate the pregnant women knowledge about risk factors for Congenital Malformation in the Baptist Hospital Mutengene with 160 women who were pregnant during this study. Down Syndrome, limb defects and other sensory deformations, such as hearing and vision have been observed. The specific goals were to evaluate knowledge about congenital abnormalities, evaluate knowledge of risk factors and evaluate knowledge of prevention.

It was a descriptive cross-sectional analysis. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel 2010 and a convenient sampling technique with a sample size of 160 pregnant women. According to the results of the study, 90 (56.25 percent) of the 160 respondents had sufficient knowledge of Congenital Abnormalities, as shown by their correct definitions.

Respondents are informed about the risk factors, as 100 (62.5%) of them are aware that alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and maternal infection can all raise the risk of CA. According to the responses, 108 (65.5%) of the respondents had a clear understanding of preventive measures such as avoiding alcohol, smoking, and taking folic acid.

Due to the fact that some participants have little or no knowledge, I recommend that the Public health minister should create public awareness on congenital abnormalities through press and social media to increase their knowledge.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will be talking on the background, the problem statement, the general objectives, specific objectives, the research questions, and the significance of the study, the scope of study and operational definition of terms used in the chapter.

Background of the Study

According to Beck (2012) throughout most of human history, congenital anomalies were perceived as omens, portents or punishment of supernatural origin in many early cultures. For example if a Woman gives birth and the Anus is closed the land will suffer famine.

Achondrophlasia and other forms of dwarfism are portrayed as divinities in the act of ancient Egypt and Greece as well as Pre-Hispanic cultures of central and South America (Dasen, 2013).Other explanation includes witchcraft, astrological configurations or emotional experience of the pregnant mother.

In the 18th century, superstitions still dominated public conception of malformations but this topic was beginning to attract serious attention from the physicians and scientist. Toward the end of the century, epigenesist finally achieved acceptance by the leading scientists opening the doors to the investigation of normal and abnormal development.

According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) (2010) report, congenital anomalies accounted for 510,400 deaths worldwide in 2010, 1% of all deaths (6% of neonatal and postnatal infant deaths) 2.5% of deaths 1-4 years.

Congenital anomalies ranked 14th among the causes of death (Boyle et al., 2018); an estimate of 7.9million children are born with a serious birth defect; many infants die worldwide within 4 weeks of birth and some die during delivery due to complications associated with birth defects. Prevalence rate is more severe in middle- and low-income countries wherein 94% of serious birth defects and 95% of deaths of these children occur (Bello et al., 2013).

Congenital anomalies have also been found to be among the top 20 leading cause of burden of disease globally and a significant contributor to infant mortality with 11.3% of neonatal death caused by congenital anomalies which may result in long term disabilities (Saus et al., 2017).

In Africa and Middle East, the prevalence ranged between 20 and 30/1000 live births in Uganda, Saudi Atrabia, Pakistan and Kenya. In Egypt the prevalence was 65.3/1000 live births (Ali et al., 2019) and in South Africa it was 1.49%.  Another study carried out in Nigeria teaching hospital showed that, out of 1057 new born, 67 had congenital anomalies giving a percentage of 6.3% (Akinlabi E. Ajao and Ikeola A. Adeoye 2019).

Congenital malformations are common in Cameroon. According to a research carried out in Yaounde, the prevalence was 9 per 1000 births. The most common types of malformations were (per 1.000 births) polydactyly 2.1; clubfeet 1.1, Neural tube defects 1.4; Hydrocephalus 1.1; oro-facial clefts 0.9; and abdominal parietal defects 0.7.( Charlotte, T.et al 2015).

Also another research carried out in General Hospital Douala, 6048 neonates were examine 99 of whom had a malformation giving a prevalence of 1.64% and among them musculoskeletal defects were the most common (36.4%) followed by digestive tract defect (22.2%) neural tube defect (11.1%) and polymalformation among the malformed babies 33% died within the first 48 hours (Robinson EnowMbu, et al 2016) Children who survive suffer from long term disabilities and pose a negative impact on economic and social status on the family.

A study carried out at the Regional Hospital Buea South West Region of Cameroon, by Enow Orock (2016) reported 5 rare cases of malformation were found involving all the system and another study carried out in the same hospital by Nkoke et al. (2017) shows a prevalence of congenital heart defect to be 2.1% where tetralogy of fallot was 20%, Atrial septic defect 20% and ventricular septal defect was 60%.

This research was carried out to assess pregnant women knowledge on the risk factors and prevention of congenital malformation at Baptist Hospital Mutengene (BHM) from October 2020 to February 2021with 50pregnant women during this study time as participants.

1.2. Problem Statement

According to WHO statistics, the vast majority of congenital defects (94 percent) occur in low- and middle-income countries. Based on observation and the above statistics, the prevalence of these defects is growing, and the psychological and social economic burden on parents, families, and society is significantly outweighing the limited technologies available in our setting to correct most of these defects.

The researcher has seen children in the community with malformations such as Down Syndrome limb defects and other sensory deformations such as hearing and visual impairment that are a liability to their families and society, as well as many women who have lost their babies due to congenital malformations, which makes them depressed and causes them to spend a lot of money on treatment when they give birth to malformes.

All of this raises the question of whether pregnant women are aware of these defects, their risk factors, and prevention measures, which is critical for them because it can reduce fetal mortality and disabilities, prompting the researcher to conduct this study in Baptist Hospital to assess pregnant women’s knowledge of congenital anomalies and their risk factors.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 General Objective

To Assessing pregnant women knowledge on the risk factors of congenital abnormalities in Baptist Hospital Mutengene

1.3.2 Specific Objectives

1. To assess pregnant women knowledge of congenital abnormalities (CAs)
2. To determine their level of knowledge on the risk factors of congenital abnormalities
3. To evaluate their level of knowledge on prevention of congenital abnormalities

1.4. Research Questions

1. Do pregnant women have any knowledge on congenital abnormalities?
2. Are pregnant women aware of the risk factors of congenital abnormalities?
3. What are the measures put in place by pregnant women to prevent these birth defects?