Congenital anatomical variants in human fetal embryological development and its risk factors in low-resource setting: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Objectives We aimed to determine the variants of congenital anomalies in human fetal development using ultrasound diagnosis, its associated risk factors, and the outcome of such pregnancies. Material and Methods This longitudinal study was conducted at a secondary health facility in north-central Nigeria. A total of 250 consenting pregnant women between 12 and 28 weeks of gestation were recruited, and each had a detailed history taken, an ultrasound scan to screen for fetal congenital anatomic variants, packed cell volume (PCV), and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks of gestation. All participants were followed up until delivery, and data analysis was done with SPSS version 21.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results Ultrasound-diagnosed congenital anatomical malformations were found in 29 participants (11.6%), and all were confirmed at birth. Of the 29 cases with congenital malformation, 15 (51.7%) were males. Maternal characteristics that were significantly associated with the risk of fetal congenital anomalies included age ( p < 0.001), hypertension in pregnancy ( p < 0.001), ingestion of herbal medication during pregnancy ( p < 0.001), previous history of unexplained neonatal death ( p < 0.001), and elevated blood glucose level ( p < 0.001). Conclusion The study shows a high incidence of congenital anomalies, especially among pregnant women with medical disorders in pregnancy. Also, there is a need to discourage the use of herbal medications during pregnancy.