Fetal Anomalies and Associated Risk Factors in Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal OPD At RAMA Medical College, Kanpur: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Major foetal anomalies continue to pose threats to the health of both mothers and their offspring. Internationally, congenital anomalies impact two to three percent of all births. In India, one to three out of every 100 babies are born with birth defects, resulting in 27 million babies being born with anomalies annually. We planned this study to fill the gap in the literature by identifying the prevalence of foetal anomalies and the correlates associated with them. Materials and methods: In our setup, the design was a cross-sectional study. The study included 3560 pregnant women visiting antenatal OPD. We collect data using a pre-formed, structured questionnaire. We conducted ultrasound scans using the GE Varsana Essential 17.3/Convex Probe, TV/TR Probe. Statistical analysis was done by using IBM SPSS version 26.0. Results: Out of 3235 women, the overall prevalence of foetal anomalies was 87 (2.69%). The study found significant associations with foetal anomalies, including age greater than 35 years (AOR of 1.21, 1.18 to 11.0), multiparousness (AOR of 1.21, 1.03 to 3.47), and a history of miscarriage (AOR of 1.99, 1.10 to 4.21). Conclusion: The study identified a 2.69% prevalence of foetal anomalies. Significant risk factors included maternal age over 35 years, multiparity, and a history of miscarriage. These findings emphasise the importance of ultrasonographic screening in each trimester among the high-risk groups to facilitate early detection.