Complications of gastroschisis (babies born with intestines out) are so many. Although the condition is rare, the chance of survival for children born with such defect in Uganda is very minimal as opposed to developed countries like USA, England, Japan, Canada, German, Austria, Russia, China and France- where children born with gastroschisis have 100% chances of survival.

It is estimated that in last 12 months, Mulago hospital Kampala received over 33 cases of babies born with their intestines outside the body. The problem is attributed to the condition of lack of facilities to care for the babies such as a well-equipped neonatal intensive care unit and inadquate parental nutrition.

Only two babies have managed to survive in the last one year. Taking care of a baby born with gastroschisis is costly such that regular parents may not afford.

The main causes of gastroshisis:

Gastroshisis is a birth defect of the abdomenal wall, where the baby’s intestines stick out side of the body through a hole beside the belly button.

The degree of defect varries in children; the opening can be small or large and some times other organs such as the liver and the stomach can also stick outside the body.

How the defect occurs due to vascular accidents during the development of the …foetus. The early intrusion of the umbilical cord vein, which leaves a defect on the right side of the umbilicus (this means a scar where the umblical cord was attached).

The doctors say that as a result of the above, the child is born with an opening, which allows the intestines and other organs to move outside the body.

Because the intestines are not covered in a protective sac and exposed to the amniotic fluid, the bowel can become irritated, causing it to shorten, twist or to swell.

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