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Abstract
Background: Congenital birth defects (CBD) are the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. Early detection and management of gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), and musculoskeletal (MSK) anomalies improve outcomes after surgery, preventing complications, promoting organ function, and enhancing quality of life. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in South Texas faces a shortage of neonatal surgical care, with limited access to specialists and socioeconomic barriers hindering treatment. This preliminary study examines the prevalence of selected congenital anomalies in Texas Public Health Region (PH) 11 and compares it to PH Regions 3 and 7, providing a foundation to guide healthcare planning in the RGV.
Methods: Using a retrospective design, this study utilizes data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry Annual Report from 1999-2020. We prioritized cases based on the following selected correctable anomalies: GI (pyloric stenosis, esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula, stenosis or atresia of the small intestine, stenosis or atresia of large intestine, rectum and anal canal, Hirschsprung’s disease, biliary atresia), GU (bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, congenital posterior urethral valves, hypospadias, renal agenesis/hypoplasia), and MSK (diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, omphalocele). For the selected anomalies, the prevalence rate (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated for Regions 3, 7, and 11 to assess the influence of regional factors on the distribution of congenital birth defects.
Preliminary Results:Based on our analysis, Region 11 demonstrated a higher prevalence of several congenital anomalies compared to Regions 3 and 7. For pyloric stenosis, Region 11 had a PR of 21.67 (95% CI: 20.69-22.65) compared to PR of 15.84 (95% CI: 15.32-16.36) in Region 3 and 12.83 (95% CI: 12.11-13.56) in Region 7. Similarly, for stenosis/atresia of large intestine and anomalies of rectum had a PR 6.23 (95% CI: 5.71-6.76) in Region 11, versus 4.95 (95% CI: 4.66-5.24) in Region 3 and 4.79 (95% CI: 4.34-5.23) in Region 7. For renal agenesis, the PR was 7.20 (95% CI: 6.63-7.76) in Region 11, compared to 6.71 (95% CI: 6.38-7.05) in Region 3 and 5.97 (95% CI: 5.48-6.47) in Region 7. Gastroschisis also showed a higher PR in Region 11 of 6.22 (95% CI: 5.69-6.75), compared to 4.53 (95% CI: 4.25-4.81) in Region 3 and 5.27 (95% CI: 4.80-5.73) in Region 7. Conversely, the prevalence of hypospadias was lower in Region 11 (PR= 44.57, 95% CI: 42.60-46.54) compared to 70.12 (95% CI: 68.59-71.65) in Region 3 and 65.43 (95% CI: 63.14-67.72) in Region 7. While other anomalies also demonstrated higher PRs in Region 11, they were less notable.
Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital birth defects (CBD) is influenced by multiple factors including maternal health, sociodemographic conditions, genetics, and environmental factors. The RGV in PH Region 11 faces disparities in neonatal surgical care, in contrast to Regions 3 and 7, where larger cities benefit from advanced healthcare systems and better socioeconomic conditions. Preliminary results reveal regional variations in CBD prevalence within Region 11, highlighting the need for investigation. An IRB-approved study will explore these disparities at the county level to guide targeted interventions and improve health outcomes across the region.
Recommended Citation
Lanehart, Desiree; Pulido, Kassandra; Bell, Natasha; and Conjee, Thambi, "Mapping the Burden of Congenital Birth Defects: Regional Variations in the Rio Grande Valley (Public Health Region 11)" (2025). Research Symposium. 54.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2025/posters/54
Included in
Mapping the Burden of Congenital Birth Defects: Regional Variations in the Rio Grande Valley (Public Health Region 11)
Background: Congenital birth defects (CBD) are the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. Early detection and management of gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary (GU), and musculoskeletal (MSK) anomalies improve outcomes after surgery, preventing complications, promoting organ function, and enhancing quality of life. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in South Texas faces a shortage of neonatal surgical care, with limited access to specialists and socioeconomic barriers hindering treatment. This preliminary study examines the prevalence of selected congenital anomalies in Texas Public Health Region (PH) 11 and compares it to PH Regions 3 and 7, providing a foundation to guide healthcare planning in the RGV.
Methods: Using a retrospective design, this study utilizes data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry Annual Report from 1999-2020. We prioritized cases based on the following selected correctable anomalies: GI (pyloric stenosis, esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula, stenosis or atresia of the small intestine, stenosis or atresia of large intestine, rectum and anal canal, Hirschsprung’s disease, biliary atresia), GU (bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, congenital posterior urethral valves, hypospadias, renal agenesis/hypoplasia), and MSK (diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, omphalocele). For the selected anomalies, the prevalence rate (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated for Regions 3, 7, and 11 to assess the influence of regional factors on the distribution of congenital birth defects.
Preliminary Results:Based on our analysis, Region 11 demonstrated a higher prevalence of several congenital anomalies compared to Regions 3 and 7. For pyloric stenosis, Region 11 had a PR of 21.67 (95% CI: 20.69-22.65) compared to PR of 15.84 (95% CI: 15.32-16.36) in Region 3 and 12.83 (95% CI: 12.11-13.56) in Region 7. Similarly, for stenosis/atresia of large intestine and anomalies of rectum had a PR 6.23 (95% CI: 5.71-6.76) in Region 11, versus 4.95 (95% CI: 4.66-5.24) in Region 3 and 4.79 (95% CI: 4.34-5.23) in Region 7. For renal agenesis, the PR was 7.20 (95% CI: 6.63-7.76) in Region 11, compared to 6.71 (95% CI: 6.38-7.05) in Region 3 and 5.97 (95% CI: 5.48-6.47) in Region 7. Gastroschisis also showed a higher PR in Region 11 of 6.22 (95% CI: 5.69-6.75), compared to 4.53 (95% CI: 4.25-4.81) in Region 3 and 5.27 (95% CI: 4.80-5.73) in Region 7. Conversely, the prevalence of hypospadias was lower in Region 11 (PR= 44.57, 95% CI: 42.60-46.54) compared to 70.12 (95% CI: 68.59-71.65) in Region 3 and 65.43 (95% CI: 63.14-67.72) in Region 7. While other anomalies also demonstrated higher PRs in Region 11, they were less notable.
Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital birth defects (CBD) is influenced by multiple factors including maternal health, sociodemographic conditions, genetics, and environmental factors. The RGV in PH Region 11 faces disparities in neonatal surgical care, in contrast to Regions 3 and 7, where larger cities benefit from advanced healthcare systems and better socioeconomic conditions. Preliminary results reveal regional variations in CBD prevalence within Region 11, highlighting the need for investigation. An IRB-approved study will explore these disparities at the county level to guide targeted interventions and improve health outcomes across the region.
