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The Frequency and Distribution of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH), Ndola Zambia

Received: 5 May 2021    Accepted: 29 June 2021    Published: 18 August 2021
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Abstract

Summary/Abstract Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the commonest malformations with worldwide prevalence of 1-3 per1000 live births. They are resulted by failure of neural tube to close during neurulation in 21-28 embryonic days and it’s a multi-factorial in etiology. Currently in Zambia there is no published data regarding NTDs at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH). Therefore this study was used to assess the frequency and distribution of NTDs at ADCH and will serve as base line reference for further studies. Method: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted to review medical records of children aged 1 day to 5 years who attended ADCH between September 2018 and May 2020. Results: During the study period, there were 2365 patients admitted at the health institution. NTDs were present in 52 cases, giving a prevalence of 0.022 thus 22/1000 births congenital anomalies of this kind observed at the institution were identified from October 2018 to May 2020 patients’ registers, which constituted the study sample. The sample had more boys (61.5%) than girls (38.5%) female with the majority (78.8%) aged between one day to twenty-eight days. The Majority of the children were from Copperbelt province with 88.5%, while the minority were from Muchinga province (1.9%). However the majority of children were from Ndola district (61.5%) and the minority from Mpika district (1.9%). The study showed that many children (96.2%) presented with Spinal Bifida (SB) and lastly encephalocele (3.8%). Myelomeningocele was the most common type of SB (21.2%). Hydrocephalus was the most common associated anomaly (19.2%) while the least associated anomaly was Microcephaly (3.8). Conclusion: The study showed that the majority of children were from Ndola district on the Copperbelt province and most children were admitted between day one and twenty eight days after birth. SB was the most common type of NTDs, and among these, those with myelomeningocele were the majority. Hydrocephalus was the most common associated impairment with majority of patients not undergoing any surgical interventions.

Published in International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12
Page(s) 20-29
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Neural Tube Defects, Spinal Bifida, Meningocele, Myelomeningocele, Encephalocele, Zambia

References
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    Poster Mutambo, Paul Siapiila. (2021). The Frequency and Distribution of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH), Ndola Zambia. International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 7(2), 20-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12

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    Poster Mutambo; Paul Siapiila. The Frequency and Distribution of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH), Ndola Zambia. Int. J. Neurol. Phys. Ther. 2021, 7(2), 20-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12

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    AMA Style

    Poster Mutambo, Paul Siapiila. The Frequency and Distribution of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH), Ndola Zambia. Int J Neurol Phys Ther. 2021;7(2):20-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12,
      author = {Poster Mutambo and Paul Siapiila},
      title = {The Frequency and Distribution of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH), Ndola Zambia},
      journal = {International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {20-29},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnpt.20210702.12},
      abstract = {Summary/Abstract Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the commonest malformations with worldwide prevalence of 1-3 per1000 live births. They are resulted by failure of neural tube to close during neurulation in 21-28 embryonic days and it’s a multi-factorial in etiology. Currently in Zambia there is no published data regarding NTDs at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH). Therefore this study was used to assess the frequency and distribution of NTDs at ADCH and will serve as base line reference for further studies. Method: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted to review medical records of children aged 1 day to 5 years who attended ADCH between September 2018 and May 2020. Results: During the study period, there were 2365 patients admitted at the health institution. NTDs were present in 52 cases, giving a prevalence of 0.022 thus 22/1000 births congenital anomalies of this kind observed at the institution were identified from October 2018 to May 2020 patients’ registers, which constituted the study sample. The sample had more boys (61.5%) than girls (38.5%) female with the majority (78.8%) aged between one day to twenty-eight days. The Majority of the children were from Copperbelt province with 88.5%, while the minority were from Muchinga province (1.9%). However the majority of children were from Ndola district (61.5%) and the minority from Mpika district (1.9%). The study showed that many children (96.2%) presented with Spinal Bifida (SB) and lastly encephalocele (3.8%). Myelomeningocele was the most common type of SB (21.2%). Hydrocephalus was the most common associated anomaly (19.2%) while the least associated anomaly was Microcephaly (3.8). Conclusion: The study showed that the majority of children were from Ndola district on the Copperbelt province and most children were admitted between day one and twenty eight days after birth. SB was the most common type of NTDs, and among these, those with myelomeningocele were the majority. Hydrocephalus was the most common associated impairment with majority of patients not undergoing any surgical interventions.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Frequency and Distribution of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH), Ndola Zambia
    AU  - Poster Mutambo
    AU  - Paul Siapiila
    Y1  - 2021/08/18
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12
    T2  - International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
    JF  - International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
    JO  - International Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
    SP  - 20
    EP  - 29
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1778
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnpt.20210702.12
    AB  - Summary/Abstract Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the commonest malformations with worldwide prevalence of 1-3 per1000 live births. They are resulted by failure of neural tube to close during neurulation in 21-28 embryonic days and it’s a multi-factorial in etiology. Currently in Zambia there is no published data regarding NTDs at Arthur Davison Children Hospital (ADCH). Therefore this study was used to assess the frequency and distribution of NTDs at ADCH and will serve as base line reference for further studies. Method: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted to review medical records of children aged 1 day to 5 years who attended ADCH between September 2018 and May 2020. Results: During the study period, there were 2365 patients admitted at the health institution. NTDs were present in 52 cases, giving a prevalence of 0.022 thus 22/1000 births congenital anomalies of this kind observed at the institution were identified from October 2018 to May 2020 patients’ registers, which constituted the study sample. The sample had more boys (61.5%) than girls (38.5%) female with the majority (78.8%) aged between one day to twenty-eight days. The Majority of the children were from Copperbelt province with 88.5%, while the minority were from Muchinga province (1.9%). However the majority of children were from Ndola district (61.5%) and the minority from Mpika district (1.9%). The study showed that many children (96.2%) presented with Spinal Bifida (SB) and lastly encephalocele (3.8%). Myelomeningocele was the most common type of SB (21.2%). Hydrocephalus was the most common associated anomaly (19.2%) while the least associated anomaly was Microcephaly (3.8). Conclusion: The study showed that the majority of children were from Ndola district on the Copperbelt province and most children were admitted between day one and twenty eight days after birth. SB was the most common type of NTDs, and among these, those with myelomeningocele were the majority. Hydrocephalus was the most common associated impairment with majority of patients not undergoing any surgical interventions.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Copperbelt University Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Ndola, Zambia

  • Department of Public Health, Copperbelt University Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Ndola, Zambia

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