[Risk factors of intrauterine growth retardation in Congo]

A case-control study was performed between April 1st and September 30th to investigate determinants of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in 3 centers in Brazzaville, Congo. Each patient group included 539 neonates. Cases were newborns with birth weight below the 10th percentile of the Leroy and Lefort curve. Risk factors of IUGR identified with univariate analysis were: maternal age<20 years, low educational level, unmarried woman, low social and economic status, primiparity, low birthweight of previous child, low interpregnancy interval, number of prenatal examinations<4, maternal weight gain during pregnancy<5kg and malaria. Multivariate analysis retained 3 risk factors: low educational level, low social and economic status, and maternal weight gain during pregnancy<5kg. This study enabled us to identify certain risk factors of IUGR useful for establishing a prevention strategy.