Prevalence and management of anencephaly at Saidu Teaching Hospital,Swat.

Anencephaly is a fatal congenital abnormality characterised by absence of cerebral hemisphere and cranial vault. overall incidence of anencephaly is 3.8-6.0/1,000 births. this study was conducted to determine the prevalence,diagnosis and management of anencephaly in district swat. this prospective study was carried out over a period of one year from january 2007 to december 2007 at saidu teaching hospital/saidu medical college swat. pregnant women having foetuses with neural tube defects (ntds) admitted in labour room/obstetric ward of the saidu teaching hospital swat were selected as subjects. those women who delivered normal babies were taken as control subjects. a proper history was taken from each subject and all the relevant information were recorded on a proforma. a total of 5,560 subjects were included in this study. out of them,69 were having ntds,63 had anencephaly,4 had spina bifida,and 2 foetuses were having multiple neural tube defects. prevalence of anencephaly was 11.33/1000 births and that of spina bifida was 0.72/1000 births. eighty percent (80%) anencephaly and 50% spina bifida were diagnosed by ultrasonography. most of the cases (52,75.36%) were delivered through normal vaginal delivery after induction. twelve (17.40%) had spontaneous vaginal delivery,4 (5.80%) had caesarean section,and hysterectomy was done in 1 (1.45%). anencephaly is common congenital anomaly in swat. complications can be prevented by implementing screening program for early diagnosis,treatment,and management. prevalence can be decreased by folic acid supplementation periconceptionally.