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Prevalence of neural tube defect in southern Thailand: a population-based survey during 2009–2012

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Abstract

Background

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of congenital malformation of the central nervous system that leads to permanent physical disability and requires lifelong treatment. In Thailand, there have been three published articles on NTDs, all hospital-based studies, which found prevalence of NTDs of 4.8–6.7 per 10,000 live births.

Objective

It was our purpose with this study to determine the prevalence and type of NTDs in southern Thailand through a population-based survey.

Method

Data were obtained through the population-based surveillance during 2009–2012 in three provinces (Songkhla, Phatthalung, Trang) in southern Thailand. Entries in the birth defects registry included all live births, all stillbirths after 24-week gestational age, and termination of pregnancy following the prenatal diagnosis at any gestational age of all congenital anomalies.

Results

During 2009–2012, 148,759 births were registered in the three provinces. Twenty-eight NTD cases were identified, giving an average of 1.88 per 10,000 births (95 % CI 1.20–2.51): 12 cases with anencephaly (42.8 %), 5 with occipital encephalocele (17.9 %), and 11 with myelomeningocele (39.3 %). The birth prevalence per 10,000 births of anencephaly, encephalocele, and myelomeningocele were 0.81, 0.33, and 0.74, respectively. Sixteen (57 %) were detected in live births, and 12 (43 %) were detected by prenatal diagnosis which later resulted in termination of pregnancy.

Conclusions

The prevalence of NTDs based on the population-based study in southern Thailand was low. About 40 % of NTD cases were detected prenatally and later terminated. Hence, examining only registry live births will result in an inaccurately low NTD prevalence rate.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Birth Defects Association (Thailand) and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. The authors gratefully acknowledge the participants for accompanying this study and the staff of the 466 hospitals for their assistance with data collection. The authors thank Mr. David Patterson from the International Affairs Office in the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, for the editorial help.

Funding

Birth Defects Association (Thailand) and Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

    Somchit Jaruratanasirikul & Ounjai Kor-anantakul

  2. Medical Education Center Songkhla Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand

    Wannee Limpitikul

  3. Medical Education Center, Hatyai Hospital, Hat Yai, Thailand

    Pathikan Dissaneevate

  4. Medical Education Center, Trang Hospital, Trang, Thailand

    Nattasit Khunnarakpong

  5. Phatthalung Hospital, Phatthalung, Thailand

    Atchara Sattapanyo

  6. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

    Somchit Jaruratanasirikul

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  1. Somchit Jaruratanasirikul
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  2. Ounjai Kor-anantakul
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Correspondence to Somchit Jaruratanasirikul.

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Jaruratanasirikul, S., Kor-anantakul, O., Limpitikul, W. et al. Prevalence of neural tube defect in southern Thailand: a population-based survey during 2009–2012. Childs Nerv Syst 30, 1269–1275 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-014-2410-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-014-2410-y

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