Different policies on prenatal ultrasound screening programmes and inducedabortions explain regional variations in infant mortality with congenital malformations
E. Garne et al., Different policies on prenatal ultrasound screening programmes and inducedabortions explain regional variations in infant mortality with congenital malformations, FETAL DIAGN, 16(3), 2001, pp. 153-157
Objective: To compare the impact of induced abortions (IA) on the mortality
of infants with congenital malformations in four European regions with dif
ferent policies on IA and prenatal ultrasound screening for congenital malf
ormations. Methods: A registry-based collection of data on congenital malfo
rmations in four different countries: Ireland (Dublin), Denmark (Funen Coun
ty), Austria (Styria), and France (Strasbourg), Results: The proportion of
infant deaths with malformations ranged from 23 to 44% of a II infant death
s with the highest proportion in Dublin, where IA is not allowed and prenat
al ultrasound screening not performed, There were highly significant differ
ences in the prevalences of IA (p < 0.001), fetal deaths (p < 0.01), and de
aths in infants with congenital malformations (p < 0.001) between the four
regions. The differences in total mortality with congenital malformations (
IA + fetal deaths + infant deaths) between regions decreased, and only Stra
sbourg differs significantly from the other three regions. Conclusion: Pren
atal ultrasound screening programmes have only a minor impact on total mort
ality with congenital malformations from 2nd trimester of pregnancy to 1 ye
ar of age, but seem to change the time of death which may be important for
both the parents and the community. Copyright (C) 2001S.KargerAG,Basel.