Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Risk Factors for Tetralogy of Fallot among children & adolescents at Sulaimani Children's Heart Hospital: A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32792/jmed.2025.29.36Keywords:
Tetralogy of Fallot, Risk Factors, Maternal Health, Neonatal, Adolescents, Congenital Heart DiseaseAbstract
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most common congenital heart defects, andunderstanding the associated risk factors is crucial for developing preventive strategies and
improving patient outcomes. This study investigates the maternal and neonatal risk factors
associated with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) among children and adolescents in Sulaimani
City. The research was conducted at a specialized Children's Heart Hospital. A descriptive
cross-sectional study was carried out, surveying 100 parents using a structured
questionnaire, The majority of TOF diagnoses (92%) occurred within the first year of life.
Age distribution among the children showed
that 26% were aged between 6-8 years,
while 11% were under 3 years. Significant maternal factors associated with TOF included
age during pregnancy, consanguineous marriage, and multiparity, which together
accounted for a total variance of 20.842%. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy showed
that 63% of mothers reported having a normal diet, 36% had poor nutrition, and 1%
reported smoking during pregnancy. Additionally, 62% of the families had no history of
heart disease, with the majority being of Kurdish nationality. Maternal factors such as mode
of delivery, folic acid consumption three months before pregnancy, maternal habits, and
diseases during pregnancy (including perinatal infections, anemia, and vitamin D
deficiency) were significant contributors to the risk of TOF. The study recommends
promoting a healthy diet during pregnancy and implementing educational programs to mitigate the identified risk factors.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Chia H. Sadiq, Pary M. Aziz, Soran Husen Mohamad, Aso Faeq Salih
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