Simpamba et al., 2018 Profiling Children with Neural Tube Defects at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka
Abstract
Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the world’s second most common birth defects after cardiovascular defects. In developing countries like Zambia, these defects are unrecognized and under reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the profile of children with NTDs at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
Methodology: A retrospective review of medical records of children with NTDs who were admitted at the UTH between January and December, 2010 was done. Data was collected using a data extraction sheet and descriptive analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.
Results: A total of 101 patients with NTDs were identified from the 2010 patients’ register and out of these, only 50 medical records were located, which constituted the study sample. The sample had more boys (58%) than girls (42%). The majority of the children were from Lusaka province with 28%, while the minority were from North-Western and Copperbelt provinces with 2% each. The profile showed that many children (78%) presented with Spina Bifida (SB), with encephalocele (20%) and lastly one with both SB and encephalocele (2%). Myelomeningocele was the most common type of SB (44%) while the lumbar region was the commonest site (52%). Occipital encephalocele (12%) was the commonest cranial NTD compared with the nasal (6%) and frontal (2%).
Conclusion: The majority of the children with NTDs admitted at the UTH were from Lusaka province and SB was the most common type of NTDs. Myelomeningocele was the most common presentation while the lumbar region was the most common site. Occipital encephalocele was the commonest compared with other encephaloceles.
All authors who submit their paper for publication will abide by following provisions of the copyright transfer: 1. The copyright of the paper rests with the authors. And they are transferring the copyright to publish the article and used the article for indexing and storing for public use with due reference to published matter in the name of concerned authors. 2. The authors reserve all proprietary rights such as patent rights and the right to use all or part of the article in future works of their own such as lectures, press releases, and reviews of textbooks. 3. In the case of republication of the whole, part, or parts thereof, in periodicals or reprint publications by a third party, written permission must be obtained from the Managing Editor of JPRM. 4. The authors declare that the material being presented by them in this paper is their original work, and does not contain or include material taken from other copyrighted sources. Wherever such material has been included, it has been clearly indented or/and identified by quotation marks and due and proper acknowledgements given by citing the source at appropriate places. 5. The paper, the final version of which they submit, is not substantially the same as any that they had already published elsewhere. 6. They declare that they have not sent the paper or any paper substantially the same as the submitted one, for publication anywhere else. 7. Furthermore, the author may only post his/her version provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication in this journal and a link is inserted wherever published. 8. All contents, Parts, written matters, publications are under copyright act taken by JPRM. 9. Published articles will be available for use by scholars and researchers. 10. IJPRM is not responsible in any type of claim on publication in our Journal. .