Describing the Prevalence of Neural Tube Defects Worldwide: A Systematic Literature Review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Folate-sensitive neural tube defects (NTDs) are an important, preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a need to describe the current global burden of NTDs and identify gaps in available NTD data.

Methods and findings

We conducted a systematic review and searched multiple databases for NTD prevalence estimates and abstracted data from peer-reviewed literature, birth defects surveillance registries, and reports published between January 1990 and July 2014 that had greater than 5,000 births and were not solely based on mortality data. We classified countries according to World Health Organization (WHO) regions and World Bank income classifications. The initial search yielded 11,614 results; after systematic review we identified 160 full text

SUBMITTER: Zaganjor I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4827875 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature