Objective: To determine the incidence and types of congenital anomalies in neonates delivered at Songklanagarind Hospital
Material and Methods: A retrospective study.
Results: Among a total of 27,061 neonates delivered at Songklanagarind Hospital between January 1988 and December 1999, congenital anomalies were determined in 337 neonates. The overall incidence of congenital anomalies was 1.2%. There were 249 neonates (73.9%) with isolated anomaly and 88 neonates (26.1%) with multiple anomalies. The most common cause of congenital anomalies was chromosomal abnormalities. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 0.2% among which Down syndrome was the most common. Among the isolated anomaly group, musculoskeletal system abnormalities were the most common type of malformation with an incidence of 0.18% followed by facial and urogenital system anomalies, respectively. Syndromes were found in 35 neonates of the multiple anomalies group with an incidence of 0.13%. Prenatal screening for congenital anomalies found only 1.8% in pregnant women aged more than 35 years.
Conclusion: The most common cause of congenital malformation in neonates delivered in Songklanagarind Hospital was chromosomal abnormality. Prenatal diagnosis is very important in terms of counseling and further management. Coverage of rubella vaccine use in Thai children is the strategy for elimination of congenital rubella syndrome.