Neural tube defects in Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia.

During December 1987 to December 1990 the incidence of neural tube defects in the Asir region located in southwestern Saudi Arabia was 0.82/1000. These results were drawn from a survey conducted of all cases of neural tube defects referred to the main hospital at Abha City (Asir Central Hospital) (ACH). Anencephaly was seen in 0.43/1000 births, spina bifida cystica 0.33/1000, and encephalocele 0.08/1000 births. The only comparable results to ours from Saudi Arabia were reported in 1986 by Thaliji et al [7] from the eastern province who found the overall incidence of neural tube defects to be 1.6/1000, anencephaly 1/1000, spina bifida 0.33/1000, and encephalocele 0.29/1000. The overall incidence of neural tube defects, anencephaly and encephalocele found in our survey was significantly lower (P<0.05) while the incidence of spina bifida remained the same (P>0.05).