Pre-pregnancy checks are highly encouraged by researchers as a means to prevent congenital conditions among babies. (Photo : REUTERS)
On Sept. 2, city researchers have urged for greater promotion of pregnancy checks in order to decrease the number of cases of newborns with congenital conditions.
Officials stated that nearly 5.6 percent of children born annually in the country have a congenital disorder. The figure, which is tantamount to around 900,000 babies, is higher than the global average by 2 to 3 percent.
Shanghai Children Health Foundation authorities further revealed that the public's awareness about the case's prevention via pre-pregnancy and prenatal checks lags behind other nations.
Such kind of tests allow treatment before a woman gets pregnant or even while she is pregnant.
The officials of the foundation, who were speaking ahead of the national congenital disorder prevention day on Sept. 12, also said that the group is teaming up with leading hospitals in China for a three-year education program about congenital disorder prevention.
For doctors, pre-pregnancy checks are the most effective in addressing congenital conditions.
In Shanghai, only less than 30 percent of couples planning to start a family undergo pre-pregnancy tests.
Dr. Cheng Weiwei, the Shanghai International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital vice president, enumerated genetic reasons, infection, unhealthy lifestyle, improper use of medication and exposure to harmful materials as some of the many causes of congenital deformity.
"Pre-pregnancy and prenatal intervention are key for congenital disorder prevention," she emphasized.
Prenatal screening for Down Syndrome and other infections, such as HIV, rubella and hepatitis B--those which can cause congenital disorders--are currently available in the city.
