PREVALENCE, PATTERN AND RISK FACTORS FOR CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AMONG NEONATES BORN IN YENAGOA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAYELSA STATE.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the commonest congenital anomaly, accounting for one-third of congenital anomalies, with over half of CHD-related deaths occurring in the neonatal period. Few Nigerian studies have focused exclusively on neonatal CHD, and none has reported its prevalence in Bayelsa State. This study determined the prevalence, pattern, and risk factors for CHD among neonates in Yenagoa.

This descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study recruited 400 neonates delivered in Yenagoa LGA using a two-stage sampling technique. Maternal data were obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaires, while all neonates underwent physical examination and echocardiography. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27, with multivariate analysis performed to identify independent predictors of CHD (p<0.05).

The median age was 7 (1.5–12.5) days, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.2:1. CHD prevalence was 8.5%. Isolated ventricular septal defect (20.6%) was the commonest acyanotic lesion, while Tetralogy of Fallot, tricuspid atresia, and transposition of the great arteries (2.9% each) were the commonest cyanotic lesions. CHD was associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension, syndromic babies, and longer maternal residence in Yenagoa, although none remained independent predictors.

The high prevalence of CHD and its association with prolonged maternal residence in Yenagoa suggest a possible environmental contribution. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of environmental pollution in CHD