Study On The Prevalence And Factors Of The Geographic Distribution Of Neural Tube Defects In China

[Objective] Applying GIS technology to understand the prevalence, geographic distribution and tendency of neural tube defects (NTDs) in China, and studying the main environmental factors influencing the geographic distribution of NTDs in China by applying GIS technology and multivariate analysis, in order to provide the scientific evidence for prevention and studying cause of NTDs in China.[Methods] The data collected in this study are surveillance data of NTDs from Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network, the 1:4M-sacle topographic database of the National Fundamental Geographic Information System of China, the surveillance regional data on socioeconomic, the consume of main foodstuff, reserves of main mineral, altitude, the consume of pesticide and Iodine deficiency disorders. Some maps are collected that are the relief map of China, the cordillera map of China, the distribution map of climate of China, the map of the frequency and route of cold wave invading China and the distribution map of GDP of county. The prevalence, geographic distribution and tendency of NTDs in China are showed by the method of descriptive analysis and special topic map. GIS technology and multilevel models are applied to find out the environmental factors influencing the geographic distribution of NTDs in China.[Results] The prevalence rate of NTDs in China presents a declining trend. The overall prevalence rate is 10.64 per 10 000 births during 2001 to 2004. The geographic distribution of NTDs showed a geographic clustering character. The occurrence of NTDs is higher in the north than in the south,...