{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T10:19:17Z","timestamp":1779099557148,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760140800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":10,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759276800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Birth Defects Research"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Congenital neurosurgical anomalies, such as neural tube defects (NTDs) and hydrocephalus, are prevalent central nervous system disorders. This study investigates their prevalence and factors statistically associated with their occurrence.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A retrospective cross\u2010sectional study at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH) from May 2023 to April 2024 included 978 patients. Data from 145 children with CNS anomalies were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and STATA\u201015, with binary logistic regression to identify potential risk factors associated with these conditions.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The prevalence of congenital neurosurgical conditions was 14.3% (145\/978). Hydrocephalus occurred in 8.3% (81\/978), NTDs in 5.01% (49\/978), Chiari malformations in 0.92% (9\/978), and encephalocele in 0.61% (6\/978). Logistic regression found that folate deficiency associated with delayed antenatal care was linked to a higher likelihood of NTDs and hydrocephalus (OR 2.56,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009\u2264\u20090.005). Other factors showing statistical associations included prematurity, low birth weight, pregnancy infections, unprescribed drug use, malnutrition, gestational diabetes, and hypertension.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Key factors statistically associated with congenital CNS anomalies in this cohort include low birth weight, prematurity, inadequate folic acid intake, gestational diabetes, maternal hypertension, and unprescribed drug use. These findings highlight the importance of early prenatal care and maternal health optimization to potentially reduce the occurrence of these anomalies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/bdr2.2536","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T09:10:29Z","timestamp":1760173829000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prevalence and Risk Factors of Pediatric Neurosurgical Congenital Anomalies at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"117","author":[{"given":"Erasto","family":"Ndomba","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry University of Dar es Salaam\u2014Mbeya College of Health and Allied Sciences  Mbeya Tanzania"},{"name":"Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital  Mbeya Tanzania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-6038-766X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Donath","family":"Damian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biochemistry University of Dar es Salaam\u2014Mbeya College of Health and Allied Sciences  Mbeya Tanzania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]]},"reference":[{"issue":"6","key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","first-page":"580","article-title":"Hydrocephalus in East Africa: A Review of Prevalence and Risk Factors","volume":"97","author":"Bugando E.","year":"2020","journal-title":"East African Medical Journal"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_12_3_1","first-page":"87","article-title":"Epidemiology of Pediatric Neurosurgical Conditions in Tanzania","volume":"16","author":"Bugando L. H.","year":"2020","journal-title":"East African Journal of Pediatrics"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_12_4_1","first-page":"56","article-title":"Neural Tube Defects in Low\u2010Income Countries: Challenges and Solutions","volume":"18","author":"Choudhury S. R.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Global Health Perspectives"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_12_5_1","first-page":"345","article-title":"Advancements in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Neuroimaging and Minimally Invasive Techniques","volume":"25","author":"David R. A. D. G.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Pediatric Neurosurgery"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_12_6_1","first-page":"123","article-title":"Maternal Characteristics and Neural Tube Defects: A Multivariate Analysis","volume":"23","author":"Davis A.","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pediatric Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_12_7_1","first-page":"1014","article-title":"Neural Tube Defects: The Role of Folate Supplementation","volume":"105","author":"Flax J. D.","year":"2017","journal-title":"American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_12_8_1","first-page":"21","article-title":"Prevalence and Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: An Updated Review","volume":"53","author":"Green R.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neuroepidemiology"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_12_9_1","first-page":"234","article-title":"Morbidity and Mortality Trends in Pediatric Neurosurgical Conditions: A Comparative Analysis","volume":"27","author":"Harris R. L.","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pediatric Surgery International"},{"issue":"5","key":"e_1_2_12_10_1","first-page":"1023","article-title":"Prevalence of Craniosynostosis: A Global Overview","volume":"14","author":"Johnson T. Y.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Craniofacial Surgery"},{"issue":"9","key":"e_1_2_12_11_1","first-page":"611","article-title":"Folic Acid Antagonists and Their Impact on Neural Tube Defects","volume":"57","author":"Jones K.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Medical Genetics"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_12_12_1","first-page":"123","article-title":"Incidence of Hydrocephalus in India","volume":"87","author":"Kumar P. N.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Indian Journal of Pediatrics"},{"issue":"6","key":"e_1_2_12_13_1","first-page":"589","article-title":"The Role of MTHFR C677T Polymorphism in Neural Tube Defects","volume":"44","author":"MTHFR C677T Polymorphism Study Group","year":"2020","journal-title":"Genetic Epidemiology"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_12_14_1","first-page":"78","article-title":"Global Distribution and Prevalence of Pediatric Neurosurgical Congenital Anomalies","volume":"22","author":"M\u00fcller J. P.","year":"2022","journal-title":"International Journal of Pediatric Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_2_12_15_1","first-page":"145","article-title":"Barriers to Optimal Care for Pediatric Neurosurgical Conditions in Sub\u2010Saharan Africa","volume":"22","author":"Mutunga K. N.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Global Health"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_12_16_1","first-page":"311","article-title":"Burden of Hydrocephalus in East Africa: Current Estimates and Future Directions","volume":"25","author":"Mwanza M. F.","year":"2021","journal-title":"African Journal of Neurosurgery"},{"issue":"1","key":"e_1_2_12_17_1","first-page":"19","article-title":"Congenital Anomalies in Neonates at Muhimbili National Hospital","volume":"13","author":"Mwashambwa A. M.","year":"2018","journal-title":"Tanzania Health Journal"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_12_18_1","first-page":"567","article-title":"Technological Advances in Pediatric Neurosurgery","volume":"19","author":"Patel A. K.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Medical Innovations Journal"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_12_19_1","first-page":"221","article-title":"Congenital Anomalies in Pediatric Populations: Epidemiology and Risk Factors","volume":"42","author":"Roberts C.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Neurosurgery Reviews"},{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_12_20_1","first-page":"223","article-title":"Neurosurgical Congenital Anomalies in Pediatric Admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital","volume":"15","author":"Sembabule A. R.","year":"2019","journal-title":"Medical Journal of Tanzania"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_2_12_21_1","first-page":"214","article-title":"Surgical Management of Pediatric CNS Anomalies","volume":"31","author":"Smith C. H.","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neurosurgery Review"},{"issue":"6","key":"e_1_2_12_22_1","first-page":"369","article-title":"Global Systematic Review of Neural Tube Defects","volume":"94","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2016","journal-title":"WHO Bulletin"},{"issue":"7","key":"e_1_2_12_23_1","first-page":"134","article-title":"Global Status Report on Preventable Causes of Hydrocephalus","volume":"85","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2020","journal-title":"WHO Reports"}],"container-title":["Birth Defects Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/bdr2.2536","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1002\/bdr2.2536","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/bdr2.2536","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T09:42:49Z","timestamp":1779097369000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/bdr2.2536"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"references-count":22,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/bdr2.2536"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/bdr2.2536","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2472-1727","2472-1727"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2472-1727","type":"print"},{"value":"2472-1727","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2024-09-07","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-09-30","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2025-10-11","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e2536"}}