[Risk factors associated with prematurity at the University Hospital of Lome, Togo]

To determine the premature birth rate and the risk factors of preterm delivery linked to local conditions of life.

It is a prospective study including all births before 37 amenorrhoea weeks. All social, medical and behavioural factors linked to preterm deliveries have been analysed for and compared with those of the medical literature.

Out of 1672 alive births, we identified 186 (11.1%) cases of prematurity and 30.1% of lethality. The main risk factors of preterm delivery were history of adverse pregnancy outcome (17.2%), history of induced abortion (11.3%), maternal age under 20 (26.3%), under 20 year old primipara (38.7%), inadequate antenatal care (66.6%), low level of education (38.7%) and mother suffering of overwork (29%). Other associated factors such as premature membrane rupture, malaria, urinary infections, gravidic toxaemia, genital infections and above all "unmarried-under 20 year old-primipara with low level of education and low socio-economical status", were significantly linked to preterm delivery.

The risk factors thus identified correspond with the well-known factors. But many factors significantly linked to preterm delivery were local features whose importance could be reduced through better means of perinatal care and prevention.