19-year incidence of neural tube defects in area under constant surveillance
Owens, J.R.; Harris, F.; McAllister, E.; West, L.
Lancet 2(8254): 1032-1035
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 6118487 Document Number: 171643
A study of the epidemiology of neural tube defects in the Liverpool and Bootle areas, England, UK, between 1961-1979 showed a decline from 1974 onwards. This trend was highly significant and was more marked for anencephaly than for spina bifida. From 1977-1979, 17 pregnancies were terminated for neural tube defects, but this number was too small to have an appreciable effect on incidence. No single factor can be implicated to explain this observation.