Comparison between the Incidence of Congenital Abnormalities amongst Newborns in Gaza Strip One Year before the 2008-2009 War on Gaza and One Year after the 2008-2009 War on …

Abstract

Aim: We sought to compare the incidence of congenital abnormalities among newborns in Gaza between 2008 and 2009, aiming to establish whether the war in Gaza increased the danders of congenital abnormalities. Method: This is a retrospective study which is based on a data kept in the archives of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and gynecology department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza. live newborns, who admitted to the NICU admissions with congenital abnormalities, are included in the study. Results: In 2008 there were 14,722 deliveries, 1,080 of them were admitted to NICU. Among them there were 113 newborns with congenital abnormalities 1%. In 2009 there were 15,717 deliveries, 1,218 NICU admissions, and 157 with congenital abnormalities. While the number of births has increased 7% in 2009, the number of admissions to NICU has increased 12% and the number of congenital abnormalities …