Spatial Analysis of Birth Defects in Ecuador

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the geographical distribution of birth defects in Ecuador. Materials and Methods: This study employed spatial analysis techniques using the records of birth defects from the Ecuadorian Public Health Ministry from January 2015 to December 2019. Morbidity rates, per 1000 new-borns, were calculated by birth defect detected and the province of birth, and then the map of its distribution was depicted. The spatial distribution was assessed in each province and canton. Results: 29 276 confirmed cases born between 2015 and 2019 were registered. The distribution of every disease tends to be different in every canton and birth defect type in Ecuador. The relative rates show a higher incidence in some eastern and highland cantons. Conclusions: We found a different distribution and rate of birth defects in Ecuador. The higher incidence of birth defects in some cantons should be investigated in future studies, as should environmental factors, consanguineous rates, and genetic polymorphism distribution.