Question

Describe how birth defects could increase or decrease health care access in india

Answer 1

Birth defects (also known as congenital anomalies, congenital malformations, congenital abnormalities or congenital disorders) are a major cause of death and disability in children. They are the leading cause of death around the time of birth (perinatal mortality). In Victoria, approximately one in every 22 pregnancies is affected by a birth defect.

A birth defect is any abnormality occurring during pregnancy. Birth defects may be detected at any time throughout a person’s life or not at all. They are commonly detected during pregnancy, at the time of birth or in early childhood. Birth defects may be structural, functional, genetic, chromosomal or biochemical and may be minor or major in nature. In some cases, they may be fatal.

The most commonly reported birth defects are chromosomal. This means there are missing, extra or other changes to chromosomes, which contain our genetic information. Structural birth defects are less common and include anomalies of the urinary tract and the heart. Some structural birth defects can be treated surgically.

Types of congenital anomalies

Birth defects can be broadly classified as:

structural: birth defects affecting the way the body is built. For example, a body part is absent or improperly formed. Examples include:

spina bifida – incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord

hypospadias – where the tube from the bladder is in an abnormal position in male babies

cleft lip – an abnormal gap in the upper lip

ventricular septal defect – an abnormal connection between the left and right ventricles of the heart

functional: anomalies affecting the way the body works or develops. Examples include those affecting the nervous system or brain such as:

Down syndrome

phenylketonuria – a metabolic disorder where the body can’t break down the amino acid phenylalanine

haemophilia – where the body lacks a specific factor needed for blood clotting

Tay-Sachs disease – a degenerative disorder affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.