Review of Birth Defects in a Community Hospital over a Ten-Year Period

Approximately 1 in 33 babies born in the United States (U.S.) with birth defects accounts for 20-30% of all deaths among neonates. In New York State, 1 out of every 20 children is born with a major malformation [1]. Birth defects are responsible for the majority of the morbidity and mortality rates, irrespective of weight and gestational age. They are detected during the antenatal period; intrapartum; and soon after birth, during the perinatal period. Causes of most birth defects are unknown. We did a retrospective chart review over a 10 year period identifying various anomalies, classifying them as major or minor anomalies, and looking for any clustering of defects in an urban community hospital.