142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Prevalence of birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight among four major ethnic groups in Guangxi, China

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Jichang Chen, MD , Department of pediatrics, Maternal and Child health care hospital in Liuzhou, Guangxi, Liu Zhou, China
Bo Wang, PhD , Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Jingjian Fu, MD , Maternal and Child health care hospital in Liuzhou, Liuzhiu, China
Linlin Luo, MD , Health Bureau in Liuzhou, Guangxi, Liuzhou, China
Zheng Nong, MD , Maternal and Child health care hospital in Liuzhou, Liuzhou, China
Lin Wang, MD , Maternal and Child health care hospital in Liuzhou, Liuzhou, China
Background: Han is the largest ethnic group while Zhuang, Tong and Miao are the three major minority populations in Guangxi, China. Each group has its unique culture and customs; the Han being the least conservative. Using surveillance data from 96 hospitals in Guangxi, this study examines differences in the prevalence of birth defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight among the four major ethnic groups.

Methods: Data were collected through the surveillance system of pregnancy monitoring and birth profiles (N=58,542 newborns) from 96 hospitals in a large city in Guangxi in 2012. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied.

Results: The overall prevalence of birth defects was 1.57% of newborns, with higher rates among Han (1.82%) and Zhuang (1.45%) groups compared to Miao (1.18%) and Tong (1.06%). The top three birth defects were limb deformities (0.5%), congenital heart disease (0.2%), and urinary system abnormalities (0.2%). The overall prevalence of preterm birth was 7.4%, with higher rates among Han (7.8%) and Zhuang (7.5%) compared to Miao (6.1%) and Tong (6.2%). The overall prevalence of low birth weight was 6.7%; the rates were higher among Zhuang (7.1%) and Tong (6.8%) compared to Han (6.4%) and Miao (6.0%). Birth defects were associated with preterm birth and low birth weight.

Conclusion: There are significant differences in birth defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight among the four ethnic groups, which might result from different underlying genetic susceptibilities and exposure to environmental risk factors (including increased use of cesarean section).  

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Describe prevalence of birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight among the four major ethnic groups in Guangxi, China; Explain the association of birth defects with preterm birth and low birth weight.

Keyword(s): Birth Defects, Prenatal Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a pediatrician and have been conducting research in the area of maternal and child health for over 10 years and fully participated in this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4387.0: Poster Session: International MCH