Epidemiological Profile And Neonatal Vitality Of Live-Born Infants With Spina Bifida: A National Retrospective Study (2014-2024)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2026v8n6p211-226Keywords:
Spina Bífida, Epidemiology, Congenital Abnormalities, Public Health, Neural Tube DefectsAbstract
Introduction: Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube malformation of multifactorial etiology, involving genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors, such as folic acid deficiency. In Brazil, monitoring these anomalies is essential for health policy planning and neonatal interventions. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile of live births with spina bifida in Brazil between 2014 and 2024. Methodology: A descriptive, quantitative, and retrospective study using secondary data from SINASC/DATASUS. Variables analyzed included region, sex, race/color, maternal age, prenatal consultations, and Apgar scores. Results: A total of 7,334 cases were recorded during the period. The Southeast region showed the highest prevalence (42,68%), while the Central-West recorded the lowest rates. A peak in notifications was observed in 2015, possibly associated with intensified surveillance during the Zika virus outbreak. The majority of cases occurred in mothers aged 25 to 29 years (24,4%) and of mixed-race (Pardo) ethnicity (51,3%). Regarding care, 67,9% of mothers attended 7 or more prenatal consultations. At the 1st minute Apgar score, 18,23% of newborns presented moderate to severe neonatal depression, a rate that decreased to 5,47% at the 5th minute Apgar score, highlighting the importance of postpartum stabilization. Conclusion: Spina bifida remains a public health challenge in Brazil, with marked regional disparities suggesting inequalities in access to diagnosis and potential underreporting. Primary prevention through folate supplementation and the strengthening of prenatal care are crucial to reducing incidence and improving the neurological prognosis of those affected.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Fábio Henrique Scatambulo Massucato, Gabriel Conti Caetano da Silva , Maria Vitória Defende Oliveira da Silva , Eleniza de Victor Adamowski
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