17 Page 17-24 © MAT Journals 2020. All Rights Reserved Volume-1, Issue-1 (July-December, 2020) International Journal of Neonatal Care and Pediatric Nursing www.matjournals.com Congenital Anomalies in a Tertiary Healthcare Institution in Rivers State, Nigeria Aminaho Ehianu Maynard Department of Nursing Science, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria Corresponding Author: aminahomaynardehianu@gmail.com ABSTRACT This study investigated congenital anomalies in a tertiary healthcare institution in Rivers State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and patterns of congenital anomalies in the hospital. The study adopted descriptive retrospective design. The study population included cases of congenital anomalies record in the tertiary healthcare institution from January 2015 to January 2019 which totaled 3171 out of which a sample of 203 was selected using the purposive sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was the researcher (self) structured checklist with a reliability index of 0.77. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages. Results revealed that the prevalence of congenital anomalies in the tertiary healthcare institution from January 2015 to January 2019 was 6%; maternal parity, type of gestation, self medication and use of herbal medication were significantly associated with congenital anomalies; the types of congenital anomalies diagnosed include myelomeningocele (4%), hydrocephalus (2.5%), neural tube effect (2%), ventricular septal defect (4%), atrial septal defect (2%), patent ductus arteriosus (2%), ventriculomegaly (1%), unspecified heart disease (2%), oesophageal atresia (3%), malrotation (4%), hirchsprung’s disease (3%), cleft lip and palate (5%), eye anomaly (4.4%), urinary/genital (6.4%), omphalocele (4%), skeletal (6%), talipes equinovarus (7%), polydactyly (4.4%), inguinal hernia (5%), umbilical hernia (9.4%), laryngomalacia (4.4%), down syndrome (3.4%), undescended testes(2%), microcephaly (3.4%), spinal bifida (3.4%) and microphthalmia (3.4%); the variables of sex, gestational age at birth, mode of delivery, obstetric complication, birth weight, asphyxia and maternal age did not significantly influence the prevalence of congenital anomalies in neonates. The study concluded that there is an increasing prevalence of congenital anomalies in neonates. Based on the study findings, the need for healthcare providers including Midwives to provide mothers and the general public with information on the causes and preventive strategies for congenital anomalies was recommended. Keywords--Congenital, anomalies, tertiary, healthcare, institution, prevalence, patterns, Rivers State, Nigeria INTRODUCTION A congenital anomaly is a condition present at birth irrespective of the cause [1]. According to the World Health Organization, congenital anomalies can be defined as structural or functional abnormalities, including metabolic issues, which are present at the time of birth [2, 3]. Congenital abnormalities may result from distortion of the typical chromosomal composition as well as impedance of normal development in the uterus by factors such as drugs, alcohol, viral and bacterial infections as well as by ionizing radiations [4]. However, the etiology of most congenital anomalies is multifactorial [5]. Congenital anomalies are a significant part of the worldwide burden of health problem among children representing 25 million disability adjusted life years around the world [6]. Congenital malformations may present as either single isolated defect or as different organ framework abnormalities in an individual. The prevalence of congenital anomalies changes from nation to nation. It is accepted that between 2- 4% of the live conceived babies and 15-20% of stillbirths have huge birth deformities [7]. Malformations at birth are a significant reason for childhood illnesses and mortality as it is approximated that one out of each 3 infants that dies has a congenital disorder [8]. The World Health Organization (WHO) appraises that nearly 260,000 deaths around the world (about 7% of every single neonatal death) were brought about by congenital anomalies in the year 2004. [3] In the United States, they happen in about 3% of babies. They resulted in about 628,000 deaths in 2015, down from 751,000 of every 1990 [2]. The sorts with the greatest number of deaths are heart disease (303,000), followed by neural tube defect (65,000) [1]. The fluctuating trends in the prevalence of congenital anomalies with time or geological area