2025 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Objective:

This study is designed to determine the burden of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Caribbean countries by evaluating the prevalence, risk factors, and associated mortality while also proffering recommendations for effective interventions to decrease mortality and morbidity from these diseases.

Background:

Neural tube defects have a newborn prevalence of 1 to 3 per 1000. Though neural tubes have been studied extensively in developed countries, there is a lack of data on the burden of NTDs in Caribbean nations. These can be associated with limited access to prenatal care, and public health challenges peculiar to these countries. The Epidemiology of neural tube defects within the Caribbean is vital to evaluating its burden while developing preventive strategies targeted at this population.

Design/Methods:

This study employs a retrospective meta-analysis of available hospitals and national health databases on NTD cases from 2010 to 2023 in selected Caribbean countries with the highest populations such as Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Qualitative data was gathered to identify barriers to prenatal care and folic acid supplementation. Statistical analyses were performed to determine significant trends and patterns in incidence, mortality rates, and environmental risk factors of NTD.

Results:

Preliminary findings report incidence of NTDs ranging from 1.5-3.5 per 1000 in Jamaica, around 6 per 1000 in Haiti, 1 per 1000 in Cuba, and 1.7 per 1000 live births in Trinidad and Tobago. Similar patterns are expected in smaller countries though there has been a paucity of information on the specific data.

Conclusions:

The limited availability of data on NTD in Caribbean countries highlights the necessity for further research to better understand the burden of these defects. It also underscores the importance of promoting folic acid fortification both pre-conception and throughout pregnancy as a preventive measure.