ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY OF CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA IN UKRAINE AND AWARENESS OF TARGET POPULATION GROUPS REGARDING PREVENTION

Abstract

Introduction. The health of the population is a critically important factor for the well-being of a country and reflects its social, economic, and demographic development. In Ukraine, over the past 12 years, there has been a steady decline in the birth rate, in particular, 24.6 % fewer births happened in 2022 compared to 2021, and 28 % fewer in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2021.

The aim of the study – to determine the degree of knowledge and awareness of the population regarding congenital defects of the neural tube and spine, including their causes, symptoms and consequences, to identify problematic aspects in the understanding and awareness of the population regarding these congenital defects, which may affect the effectiveness of the implementation of preventive measures.

The main part. According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, as of 2020, more than 200,000 children in Ukraine had childhood disability status, which represents about 2 % of the total child population in the country. The causes of disability among children vary and can be linked to congenital defects, injuries, diseases, and other factors. Statistical data from the website of the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (http://medstat.gov.ua/ukr/reports.html) for the years 2020–2022 was analyzed, specifically data from Form No. 31, “The report on Medical Care for Children” for the current year, particularly Table 2300 on child morbidity and mortality under one year of age. The analysis showed significant fluctuations in the number of spina bifida cases among children in Ukraine between 2021 and 2022. In 2021, there was a sharp increase in cases to 59 children, which is 55 % more than in 2020, with the most significant rise occurring in the Vinnytsia region. However, in 2022, the number of children with this condition was 23 % lower than the previous year. At the same time, the number of cases in Zakarpattia Oblast increased dramatically in 2022, and was over 4.8 times higher than in 2020 and 2021. Awareness of the risks of having children with spina bifida and ways to prevent it was assessed among a target group of 124 pregnant women of various ages and stages of pregnancy. The study revealed that 25 % of the surveyed women belonged to the risk group for giving birth to a child with spina bifida, but only 24 % of those who took vitamins paid attention to the presence of vitamin B9 (folic acid), which is critically important for preventing this condition. While the majority of women took vitamins during pregnancy, a significant portion was not informed about the importance of folic acid, and their diets often lacked foods rich in this vitamin, increasing the risk of spina bifida in their children.

Conclusions. In 2020, more than 200,000 Ukrainian children were categorized as having childhood impairments, accounting for almost 2 % of the entire child population. Between 2021 and 2022, the incidence of spina bifida among children in Ukraine varied significantly. A study found that just 24 % of women who took vitamins understood the role of folic acid in preventing spina bifida, showing a lack of awareness of this risk and potential preventive strategies.