Abstract
Abstract
Background
Neural tube defects are common congenital anomalies that result from early malformation in the development of the spinal cord and brain. It is related to substantial mortality, morbidity, disability, and psychological and economic costs. The aim of this review is to determine the pooled birth prevalence of neural tube defects and associated risk factors in Africa.
Methods
The first outcome of this review was the pooled birth prevalence of the neural tube defects and the second outcome was the pooled measure of association between neural tube defects and associated risk factors in Africa. We systematically searched PubMed, PubMed Central, Joanna Briggs Institute, Google Scopus, Cochrane Library, African Journals Online, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Medline databases. The heterogeneity of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Q test statistic, I2 test statistic, and, visually, using Forest and Galbraith’s plots. A random-effect model was applied to get the pooled birth prevalence of neural tube defects. Subgroup, sensitivity, meta-regression, time-trend, and meta-cumulative analyses were undertaken. The fixed-effect model was used to analyze the association between neural tube defects and associated risk factors.
Results
Forty-three studies with a total of 6086,384 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled birth prevalence of the neural tube defects was 21.42 (95% CI (Confidence Interval): 19.29, 23.56) per 10,000 births. A high pooled birth prevalence of neural tube defects was detected in Algeria 75 (95% CI: 64.98, 85.02), Ethiopia 61.43 (95% CI: 46.70, 76.16), Eritrea 39 (95% CI: 32.88, 45.12), and Nigeria 32.77 (95% CI: 21.94, 43.59) per 10,000 births. The prevalence of neural tube defects has increased over time. Taking folic acid during early pregnancy, consanguineous marriage, male sex, and substance abuse during pregnancy were assessed and none of them was significant.
Conclusions
The pooled birth prevalence of neural tube defects in Africa was found to be high. The risk factors evaluated were not found significant.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Reference77 articles.
1. Moore KL, Persaud TVN. The developing human. Clinically oriented Embryology. 8th edition Chapter. Congenital anomalies of the brain and spinal cord. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2008.
2. Gedefaw A, Teklu S, Tilahun BT. Magnitude of Neural Tube Defects and Associated Risk Factors at Three Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. London: Hindawi, BioMed Research International; 2018. p. 10. Article ID 4829023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4829023.
3. Nasri K, et al. Epidemiology of neural tube defect subtypes in Tunisia, 1991–2011. Pathol Res Pract. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/jprp201406027.
4. Bourouba R, Houcher B, Akar N. Risk factors of neural tube defects: a reality of Batna region in Algeria. Egypt J Med Hum Genet. 2018;19:225–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/jejmhg201710003.
5. Adane F, Seyoum G. Prevalence and associated factors of birth defects among newborns at referral hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia. Ethiop J Health Dev. 2018;32(3):157–62.