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Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Anencephaly and Spina Bifida in Boston, Massachusetts

Lechaim Naggan, M.D.^†,
and Brian MacMahon, M.D.^‡

IT has been reported that the prevalence rate of anencephaly and spina bifida is very high in Ireland¹ ^, ² and very low in the Jewish population of the United States.³ These observations prompted the present study of differences in rates between ethnic groups in Boston, Massachusetts. The large population of Irish descent in Boston provides the basis for a study of the effect of migration; the substantial Jewish population allows a re-examination of the earlier observations made in Rhode Island, where the Jewish population is quite small.Embryologic⁴ and epidemiologic similarities,³ ^, ⁵ in particular the tendency for both malformations to occur within . . .

Funding and Disclosures

* From the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health (requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. MacMahon at the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 1 Shattuck Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115).

We are greatly indebted to the administrative and medical staffs of the Boston Hospital for Women, Lying-in Division, and of the St. Margaret's, Beth Israel, and Newton–Wellesley Hospitals, who kindly gave access to their records, to the record librarians, who extended all possible help, and to the Rev. John E. Murphy, S. J., and Dr. Joseph Sigurito, of Boston College, who very kindly reviewed the names of the cases and controls to deduce the ethnic origin.

Author Affiliations

BOSTON

†Medical officer, Israeli Defense Army.

‡Professor of epidemiology and head, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health.

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