PEDIATRICS Vol. 47 No. 3 March 1971, pp. 577-586
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Naggan, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Naggan, L.

ANENCEPHALY AND SPINA BIFIDA IN ISRAEL

Lechaim Naggan M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H1

1 Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health

An analysis of 776 cases of anencephaly and spina bifida, born to Jewish mothers in Israel between 1958 and 1968, is presented. A prevalence of 0.86 per 1,000 total births for anencephaly and 0.60 for spina bifida was observed. A high sex ratio for anencephaly (44.1% male) was observed and it is suggested that high ratios may be characteristic of some populations with a low prevalence of neural tube defects. High rates (2.1 per 1,000 for both anomalies) were observed among children of mothers who emigrated from Iraq and Iran. Lowest rates were observed among Israeli mothers. Prevalence rates had their strongest associations with birth order, from a low of 1.25 per 1,000 among first births to a high of 2.40 per 1,000 for the sixth and higher birth orders. The effect of birth order was independent of maternal age and ethnic variation. No significant seasonal variation of affected births was detected. But a very strong downward trend was observed during the study period, mainly in spina bifida (from a prevalence of 1.05 per 1,000 in 1958 to 0.44 in 1968). The trend could not be explained by changes in parity or ethnic composition of the population and an environmental hypothesis is proposed.

Submitted on May 12, 1970
Accepted on August 18, 1970