[Fetal growth retardation: epidemiology and intrauterine growth rate]

This study aimed at two purposes: 1) To become aware, in our environment, of some epidemiological factors of fetal growth retardation in its harmonious, non-harmonious and semiharmonious variants. 2) To obtain fetal growth curves, from the 31st to the 43rd weeks of pregnancy, of the three types of deficiencies and compare them with the intrauterine growth of normal newborns.

We have studied the last 249 growth retarded fetuses admitted to the Neonatology Service. The statistical study was carried out in comparison to 7,720 cases of fetuses with normal growth.

The main results were the following: 1) An unquestionable influence of a deficient educational, laboral and economical level of the mother in the genesis of fetal growth retardation. 2) Fetuses with harmonious retardation reached the highest gestational ages. 3) The obstetric procedure is conditioned by the fetal growth retardation. 4) There was higher morbility in the studied group. 5) The increased weekly anthropometry tendency was similar in the three groups of growth retarded fetuses.