Congenital Anomalies and Termination of Pregnancy in Iran

Abstract

The aim of this study was to document some epidemiological features of termination of pregnancy for birth defects in Iran. We studied 603 pregnant women who were diagnosed/recommended for the termination of pregnancy as having a fetus with some types of birth defect(s). Most women (87.2 percent) had at least one ultrasound examination. The proportion of other screening tests including amniocentesis and genetic tests were 2.8 and 4.6 percent, respectively. Of 603 women, 201 terminated the pregnancy giving a prevalence rate of 33.3 percent (CI 95%: 29.6–37.6). The remaining 402 subjects were unable to get the permission for abortion because of untimely diagnosis/application for termination (20th week of pregnancy and/or later). Forty-eight percent of termination of pregnancies was performed before the 18th week of pregnancy. Neural tube defects, limb deformation, hydrops fetalis, hydrocephaly, and chromosomal anomalies including Down syndrome accounted proportionally for about 65 percent of defects eligible for abortion in the region. Although the rate of termination of pregnancy for birth defects is acceptable at the current situation in the country, more efforts should still be made to convince the community authorities to give more possibility and ease for the termination of pregnancy for congenital anomalies.

Consanguineous Marriage, Reproductive Behaviour and Postnatal Mortality in Contemporary Iran

“…A recent study has, however, shown that a majority of pregnancies were not terminated in cases of genetic disorders, either because the disorder had not been diagnosed or an application for a termination had not been lodged before the stipulated 20 week limit [63] . In addition, a small minority of clinicians [64] and the parents of children with a genetic disorder [65] regarded even the early termination of pregnancy as unacceptable on personal, religious grounds.…”

Uses, Limitations, and Validity of a Registry of Congenital Anomalies in Iran: A Critical Review

“…We also investigated the occurrence rate (33 percent) of termination in pregnancies with congenital anomalies [10], and association of folic acid consumption and birth defects [11]. More other studies have been carried out using our registry data.…”

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“…In a report [13] it has been shown that increased prenatal diagnosis and subsequent pregnancy termination contributed a major role in reducing overall national birth prevalence rate of congenital anomalies in Canada between 1998 and 2013. Samadirad et al [14] has shown that one in almost three prenatally diagnosed pregnancies with birth defects was legally terminated in Iran before 20 weeks of gestation. However the social and legal acceptability of this form of secondary prevention is not without questions.…”