article · PLoS ONE
Neural tube defects affect the embryonic brain and spinal cord, causing serious disability or infant death. A study examining 243 mothers in North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia, identified specific socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioural factors linked to these conditions. Higher risks of neural tube defects were found among mothers with low annual family incomes, a history of stillbirth, a history of abortion, preconception tea consumption, and exposure to pesticides or chemicals. In contrast, receiving preconception care and taking iron, folic acid, or multivitamin supplements during pregnancy showed strong protective effects. These findings underline the importance of targeted healthcare and environmental protections in resource-constrained settings, supporting the need to expand preconception counselling, nutritional support, and screening to reduce birth defects among vulnerable populations.
Neural tube defects affect more than 300,000 infants globally each year, placing an exceptionally heavy burden on low- and middle-income countries. Understanding specific local risk factors allows healthcare providers and public health organisations to design targeted prevention initiatives, promoting protective nutritional supplementation and protective maternal behaviours to prevent severe lifelong disabilities and infant mortality.
The abstract provides observational epidemiological findings and does not indicate a direct commercial application pathway. The evidence could, however, guide the formulation and distribution of maternal health supplements, such as folic acid and multivitamin combinations, by pharmaceutical or public health suppliers. Any potential translation into preventative health programmes or clinical screening protocols remains at an early, policy-dependent stage.
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INTRODUCTION: Neural tube defects affect the brain and the spinal cord of the developing embryo. The defects occur due to incomplete or failure of closure of the neural tube. The condition eventually causes death and lifelong disability. Worldwide, more than 300,000 babies are born with neural tube defects each year. The highest burden is in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aims to identify the risk factors associated with neural tube defects among mothers who gave birth in North Shoa Zone Hospitals. METHODS: A hospital based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 243 (81 cases and 162 controls) study participants in North Shoa Zone Hospitals. The hospitals were selected using simple random sampling and all cases and randomly selected controls in the selected hospitals were included in the study. The data were collected by using pre-tested structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Different factors were identified to have association with neural tube defect. Family annual cash income less than 24000ETB (AOR: 3.73, 95%CI: 1.35, 10.26), history of still birth (AOR: 3.63, 95%CI: 1.03, 12.2), history of abortion (AOR: 6.15, 95%CI: 2.63, 18.56), preconception tea use (AOR: 2.36, 95%CI: 1.15, 4.86) and pesticides/chemical exposure (AOR: 5.34, 95%CI: 1.77, 16.05) were positively associated factors. In contrast, preconception care (AOR: 0.14, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.39) and taking iron/folic acid/multivitamin during the current pregnancy (AOR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.33) showed a protective effect. CONCLUSION: Family annual income less than 24000ETB, history of still birth, history of abortion, preconception tea uses and pesticides/chemical exposure were associated factors of neural tube defects. Preconception counseling and screening should be recommended for women who plan for pregnancy.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250719
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