Birth defects and their impact on child morbidity and mortality in developing settings

Abstract

Despite the notable gains that have been realized in reversing perinatal, neonatal, and childhood morbidity and mortality, insignificant actions on birth defects undermine the desired outcomes. A yearly upward trend of birth defects (44.04-205.28 per 100,000 livebirths) between 2014 and 2018 attributed to known genetic, unknown multifactorial inheritance, and socio-demographic environmental factors, with an estimated unit economic cost of $ 1,139.73 for outpatient services was observed in Kiambu County, Kenya. Thus, interventions anchored on social health insurance would suffice.