Outcome and Congenital Anomalies in Children Born after Assisted Reproductive Technology in Port Harcourt

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of children born following Assisted Reproductive Technology in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Place of Study: Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt.

Methods: Fifty ART-conceived-children (subjects) and 50 spontaneously conceived children (controls) between 2004 and 2013 were studied. The subjects were recruited from the treatment records of The Bridge Clinic, Port Harcourt. Those who gave consent were invited to the paediatric clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) between January 2014 and June 2014 where they were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Data collected was collated and analysed with Epi Info Ver. 6.04d.

Results: The mean gestational age at delivery (36.3 ± 3.1 versus 38.9 ± 1.2 weeks) and the mean birth weight (2.6 ± 0.8 versus 3.4 ± 0.5 kg) were significantly lower in the cases than controls. There was a higher incidence of congenital anomalies in the ART babies 17(34%) versus 0(0%) [OR 25.24, 95% CI: 3.25 - 53.19]. Admission into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was also significantly higher in the ART babies, 15(30%) versus 3(6%) [OR 6.53, 95% CI: 6.23 - 30.90].

Conclusion: The children born from ART in Port Harcourt had more adverse outcome than spontaneously conceived children with respect to preterm birth, lower birth weight, neonatal admission and congenital anomalies. Patients should be adequately counseled on these outcomes before they embark on assisted conception.