Environmental, nutritional and socio-demographic factors associated with neural tube defects: A case-control study at Muhmbili Orthopedic Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Abstract
Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe congenital anomalies caused by environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors. NTDs are the congenital anomalies of the central nervous system that are associated with the failure of the neural tube closure during the early embryonic period. Neural tube defects (NTDs) continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality to children and the community at large; it is worth investigating potential risk factors to establish novel approaches to NTD prevention. The factors which are associated with the etiology of NTDs differ by country, region, and within the country. This study aimed to investigate the environmental risk factors associated with NTDs among children who were receiving treatment at Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI), Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Methods: It was a hospital-based retrospective case-control study in which we enrolled 94 mothers of children with NTD (cases) and 100 mothers of children without NTDs (controls) from Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute, Tanzania, in 2023. Data were collected using a structured and pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. These were interviewed to find out the environmental and nutritional factors related to NTDs. Data were cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 27. In determining the significant or insignificant difference between the two groups (strength of association), the two groups, Pearson’s and Fisher's chi-square test was used for comparing the categorical…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 100 participants or records.
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