CONGENITAL-MALFORMATIONS IN GONDAR, HOSPITAL, ETHIOPIA

A retrospective record analysis of the last six years was done to dete rmine the pattern of congenital malformations in the paediatrics depar tment of Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital, North Gondar, Et hiopia, Of a total of 7489 admissions, 191 cases of congenital malform ations were found, accounting for about 2.6% of the total admissions, The male to female ratio was 2.7:1, Cardiac malformations were seen mo re frequently (31%) followed by hernias (15.7%) and gastrointestinal m alformations (14.8%), In only 45% of the cases were medical care sough t in the first year of life, Out of 191 cases, 20 died in which the ma lformations were directly or indirectly accountable, giving a case Fat ality rate of around 10.5%,This study has highlighted the need for a c ommunity based, large scale prospective study to determine the inciden ce and contributory factors for congenital malformations.