Inequidades en el diagnóstico de anomalías congénitas mayores en recién nacidos en Cali, Colombia

Abstract

Background: Major Congenital Anomalies (MCA) are present in 2-3[%] of live births. Most of these are diagnosable by prenatal ultrasound (PNUS). Developing countries have inequities in access to this screening test. Objectives: To determine existing inequities access to PNUS in mothers of newborns (NB) with MCA hospitalized in two neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and to identify inequities in the diagnosis of MCA among mothers to whom it was made at least one PNUS. Methods: Cross-sectional study in NB with MCA diagnosable by PNUS hospitalized in two NICUs of Cali, Colombia, between 2005 and 2009. The index of agreement (kappa) between prenatal diagnosis and definitive MCA was calculated. It was established associations between absence of PNUS and diagnosis of MCA with socio-demographic factors and health insurance schemes. Results: 404 cases with 573 MCA were included. 51.7[%] (95[%] CI: 46.7[%]-56.7[%]) had at least one PNUS; of these 31.1[%] (95[%] CI: 24.9[%]-37.9[%]) had no diagnosis of MCA. The absence of PNUS was associated with affiliation to the subsidized health scheme, no-affiliation to the health system, mothers from municipalities different to the capital of the province, from other provinces and from rural areas. There were similar associations for the absence of a diagnosis of MCA in PNUS. Conclusions: It was detected inequities in access to the PNUS and in diagnosis of MCA for mothers of greater social and demographic vulnerability. The access to services of PNUS, Colombia should been improved, in order to reduce these social disparities.