Visible Congenital Malformations in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

Objective: To gain a better understanding of congenital malformations and to help reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in a context of resource-limited countries.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective and prospective data collection over the period from November 2019 to January 2022 was conducted in the Neonatology Unit of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (West Africa). Records of neonates with a visible malformation, neonates whose parents were accessible by telephone were included.

Results: The frequency of congenital malformations was 8.4%. They affected females (51.1%), first-born siblings (25%) and full-term babies (69.6%). Osteoarticular malformations (38%), those of the eye, ear, face and neck (22.81%), followed by those of the digestive system (21.64%) were the most frequent. The case-fatality rate was 51.5%.

Conclusion: Visible congenital malformations are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates in our unit. To help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with malformations, awareness-raising, early detection, prevention and improved medical care for affected neonates are needed. This is all the more true in countries where medical resources may be limited and surveillance systems need to be put in place.