Factors Associated with Infant Mortality due to Congenital Anomalies: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Fatemeh Zolfizadeh; Maryam  Ghorbani; Maryam  Soltani; Shahab  Rezaeian; Abdolhalim  Rajabi; Koorosh  Etemad; Mahmoud  Hajipour; Ali  Ghasemi; Halimeh  Yaghoobi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i5.9411

Fatemeh Zolfizadeh Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Maryam Ghorbani Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Maryam Soltani Razi Clinical Research Development Unit (RCRDU), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
Shahab Rezaeian School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Abdolhalim Rajabi Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Koorosh Etemad Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti Univer-sity of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahmoud Hajipour Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Ghasemi Birjand University of Medical Sciences. Birjand. Iran
Halimeh Yaghoobi Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sci-ences, Bandar Abbas, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i5.9411

Keywords: Congenital abnormalities; Infant mortality; Iran

Abstract

Background: Congenital anomalies are one of the major public health problems and one of the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity. We aimed to investigate some factors associated with infant mortality due to congenital anomalies in several provinces of Iran.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 2199 women referring health centers of nine provinces of Iran 2015-2018. Cases were defined as mothers with infant death due to congenital anomalies, and control group comprised of mothers with live birth or infant deaths due to other causes (n=1986). The descriptive data were expressed as percentage and frequency. Factors associated with infant death due to congenital anomalies were evaluated and analyzed at 95% confidence level by logistic regression analysis.

Results: The multiple logistic regression analysis reveal that history of cesarean delivery [OR:2.13 ;95%CI (1.58-2.87)], maternal age [OR:1.94 ;95%CI (1.31-2.86)])], area of living [OR: 1.69;95%CI (1.22-2.33)], maternal smoking during pregnancy [OR: 1.41; 95%CI (1.02-1.95)], consanguineous marriage [OR:1.53;95%CI (1.12-2.08)], also low birth weight [OR: 3.09; 95%CI (2.23-4.30)] were significantly associated with infant death due to congenital anomalies.

Conclusion: Identification of factors associated with congenital anomalies has been shown to reduce treatment costs and medical complications of neonates. Therefore, genetic counseling and educational programs for high-risk women, and prenatal screening are essential to identify and prevent factors contributing to congenital abnormalities.