More and more children with birth defects

Every year, the world has about 8 million babies born with a birth defect that is mainly caused by post-conception incidents in the mother's body.

Pregnancy nutrition is extremely important.(Photo: umich / VNE)

According to the latest statistics of the March of Dimes charity (USA), the number of babies with malformations has increased in recent years, partly due to a genetic error causing heart defects, spina bifida and mental tube defects. menstruation, Down syndrome ., the rest are the consequences of post-conception events such as maternal rubella or syphilis infection (brain damage of children), affected by some drugs, alcohol or lack of Iodine in the diet. The majority of cases are concentrated in poor countries - where infants can die from simple incidents that can be avoided (about 70% of birth defects can be prevented, cured or improved) .

The rate of birth defects worldwide with large distances between countries, for example in Sudan is 82 cases in 1,000 babies, while in France is 39.7. The research team argues that there is no denying the role of poor maternity care, high maternal age and same-sex marriage in low- and middle-income countries.

According to statistics, people in Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia are prone to common genetic diseases such as anemia, sickle cell disease and G6PD metabolic disease. These are places that do not qualify for universal diagnosis services to detect high-risk couples. Experts also said that for a long time the rate of birth defects was not assessed properly worldwide.

"People often think that birth defects are not preventable," said Dr. Jose Cordero, head of the birth defect department of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, "there are many opportunities for children to be born healthy".

All women of childbearing age have a 5% risk of having a birth defect, Dr. Arnold Christianson, University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) said. This risk may increase or decrease, depending on a variety of factors such as whether the mother has received enough folic acid, has been vaccinated against rubella, has diabetes or diseases that threaten the fetus, has good nutrition, the number of births is far away . Christianson stressed that "healthy mothers at conception are at a significant risk reduction."

The March of Dimes report shows that it is necessary to improve the health of all women, especially pregnant mothers, and improve family planning and education about birth defects (investigation for Less than 40% of African women know about Down syndrome, and take good care of a disabled child.

My Linh (according to AP)