[Maternal risk factors associated with anencephaly].

INTRODUCTION

Anencephaly has factors of risk genetics, environmental and maternal.

OBJECTIVE

Identify maternal factors of risk for anencephaly.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Department of Gyneco-Obstetrics and Pediatrics; second level Social Security Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

69 pregnant patients attended in their delivery, 23 cases and 46 controls.

INTERVENTIONS: We applied a questionnary with questions about factors of risk to each patient with anencephaly children (cases), and to two mothers with healthy children (controls).

MEASUREMENTS: The data were analyzed and in boards 2 x 2 resisting differentiates them with x2 test, and the association was measured with odds ratio (OR). Results greater than 1.5 with IC95% by above 1 were significant.

RESULTS

Incidence of anencephaly is 2.82/1,000 live births. Association with maternal age, pregnancy, gestational pathology, exposition to high temperatures, mother occupation, exposition to chemical or physical agents, was not found. Protective effects associated, with drug administration during gestation, mainly multivitamin preparations, was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence is high, it is a public health problem. During pregnancy probability of anencephaly was less frequent in mothers receiving multivitamin preparations.