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1 out of 33 babies has birth defects in Malta

Xinhua, March 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

One out of 33 babies born in Malta has major congenital anomalies, according to a report published by the archipelago's Department of Health's Information and Research Unit on the International World Birth Defects Day which falls on Wednesday.

It said a baby with one or more major birth defects is born every three days. Over the 10-year period 2003-2012, birth defects led to 104 infant deaths, accounting for 43.5 per cent of all infant deaths.

"Although several congenital anomalies have no known cause, we know today that several exposures such as certain medications and alcohol may lead to certain birth defects," the report showed.

The most common congenital anomalies are congenital heart defects, followed by limb defects and genital defects. Endit