It’s estimated that in Mexico half a million newborn children per year risk undergoing a situation or sickness that could result in a disability. For each child that dies derived from a birth defect or a genetic disease during the first year of life, five which survive generally suffer from some type of disability.
- Annually, there are two million births in Mexico and the proportion of birth defects ranges from 2 to 5% of all babies born alive; this represents between 40,000 and 100,000 cases per year.
- In 2006, 914 deaths derived from defects in the neural tube were registered in babies under one year old (only taking into account Anencephaly, Encephalocele and bifid spines)
- In 2007 the Ministry of Health registered 956 hospital entries with a diagnosis of neural tube defects; the cost of each of these babies approximates 2 million pesos per year of life.
- In 2005, 949 children were diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism; their healthcare costs $240,000 per year of life, and generates an irreversible mental sub-normality.
- It’s estimated that each year, more than 600 babies become bilaterally blind due to premature retinopathy. Some schools and institutions in charge of visual disabilities, report that premature retinopathy amounts to between 15 and 55% of the causes of the total index of visual disabilities.
- With concrete and simple awareness measures, information and the creation of awareness amongst Mexicans, we can avoid the birth disability of up to 60,000 children.
- The detection of congenital malformations and adequate treatment, will improve the quality of life of the newborn and the mother, as the costs of healthcare decrease considerably.
- Avoiding congenital disabilities gives better opportunities for the newborn’s future and its life expectancy increases.
- The fetus and mother’s health depends on a series of combined factors which include a healthy nutrition, favorable emotional conditions and an adequate environment free of contaminants and allergenic pathogens.
- Also, intense physical work increases the necessity of nutrients; furthermore, the supplementary demand of energy from foods and the posture effects associated to weight support might affect the flow of blood into the uterus and limit the nutrients that reach the placenta and the fetus.
- Birth defects are alterations suffered by babies during pregnancy. Folic acid is a substance which can prevent up to 70% of these defects. Folic acid is a vitamin which plays an important role in the process of brain, face and spine formation in the fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation.
- All women and men from 12 years old onwards must ingest folic acid to prevent congenital alterations or sicknesses in their future children.
- Neonatal metabolic screening is a test through which you can discover and opportunely treat serious and irreversible illnesses such as congenital hypothyroidism: • It reduces mortality rates in people which suffer this sickness.
- Low weight at birth (2.5 Kg.) is the main mortality factor in unweaned babies and in long run health problems for individuals, such as learning disorders.
- All women in low-income areas must periodically receive iron and folic acid complements, as well as nutritional advice on appropriate food to avoid anemia, and a consequent deficient fetal development. In these areas, 40% of pregnant women are anemic and continue being anemic during the first period after child labor, putting the newborn’s life at risk.
• Improves the quality of life of individuals through early detection and opportune treatment.
• Generates an excellent cost-benefit ratio to society.
