Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Newborns with Gastroschisis Operated on in a Referral Hospital in Angola

Abstract

Gastroschisis is a congenital malformation characterized by non-closure of the anterior abdominal wall, a paraumbilical defect usually to the right of the umbilical cord with externalization of the intestinal viscera. This study aims to analyze the clinical and epidemiological profiles of gastroschisis cases and examine associations between maternal and neonatal factors in a public referral hospital in Angola. This is an observational, descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted with the collection of information in 361 newborns medical records with gastroschisis treated at the David Bernardino Pediatric Hospital from January 1st, 2010 to July 15th, 2021. The variables that characterize the clinical, socioeconomic and demographic profile of 361 newborns (NB) with gastroschisis presented the following characteristics: 28% of mothers aged < 20 years; maternal mean age was 22,34+ 4.5 years, the occurrence of death was higher among NB of mothers aged 20 years corresponding to 96.5%, primiparous 127 (35.2%); without schooling 10 (2.8%), primary education 59 (16.3%), secondary education 43 (11.9%); out-of-hospital births 201 (55.7%); simple gastroschisis 326 (90.3%); primary closure 115 (31.9%); neonatal sepsis 145 (40.2%); mucosal skin pallor 70 (19.4%); gastroschisis-related mortality was 347 (96.1%). The clinical, socioeconomic and demographic profile of mothers and newborns with gastroschisis are widely studied and associated with well-known risk factors, including maternal age under 20 years, out-of-hospital delivery, low level of education, and reduction of the number of prenatal consultations as well as absence of prenatal diagnosis and multiparity.