Descriptive study of apparent congenital malformations at the Binza-Delvaux maternity hospital in Kinshasa

Abstract

Context and objective: In the absence of prenatal diagnosis, a complete clinical examination of the newborn remains essential in the detection of apparent congenital malformations. The objective of the present study was to identify apparent congenital malformations in newborns. Methods. This was a descriptive series of cases undertaken at the Binza-Delvaux Maternity Hospital in Kinshasa, from January 2020 to September 2021. Parameters of interest included sociodemographic data, history, prenatal consultations, birth weight, location, and type of malformation. Chi-square and Student's t tests were used to compare proportions and means, respectively. Results. A total of 311 out of 6,410 newborns (4.8%) presented apparent congenital malformations, with a male preponderance (54.4%). The mean age of the mothers was 29.6 ± 5.9 years. Postaxial polydactyly was the most common malformation (42.2%), followed by umbilical hernias (20.3%), hyperchromic spots (9.9%), clubfeet (4.9%), and hypospadias (3.8%). Conclusion. Musculoskeletal system anomalies were the most common apparent congenital malformations at the Binza-Delvaux Maternity Hospital. Malformed newborns were born to young mothers, with a low rate of obstetric ultrasound examinations. Received: November 15, 2024 Accepted: June 12th, 2025 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aamed.v18i4.17