Birth defects in Malaysia claim 30% of young lives
The Straits Times
It is the second most common cause of death for children under the age of five. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PETALING JAYA - About 30 per cent of deaths among children under five in Malaysia between 2018 and 2022 were related to congenital conditions.
It is the second most common cause of death in this age group, followed by nervous system malformations and surgically-related issues, according to the Health Ministry (MOH).
It said this accounted for about 55 per cent of congenital anomalies, making them the most common type reported nationwide, including conditions such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome.
MOH does not capture data on live births with congenital conditions.
“Existing reporting mechanisms are primarily focused on mortality outcomes, including stillbirths and deaths among children under five years of age attributable to congenital causes,” it said.
Currently, there is no stand-alone national programme dedicated specifically to preventing congenital disabilities.
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