Abstract:
The tiny state of Goa, with a population of about 13 lakhs and a literacy rate of 82.32 percent (2001 Census), enjoys some of the best health profile, in comparison to the other states of India. Compared to the national average of 74 percent, Goa has a very low infant mortality rate (15.46 percent), may be mainly due to the high literacy rate. With this declining infant mortality rate, congenital malformations (CMs) assume a greater importance. Not many published reports are available about the incidence and intensity of CMs in the neonates in Goa. The present study was undertaken with the cooperation of Goa Medical College (GMC), the tertiary medical care center for the state of Goa to understand the kinds and frequency of CMs occurring in Goa.
