Is there a relationship between a history of spontaneous abortion and low birthweight in Cotonou (West Africa) ?
Fourn, L.; Ducic, S.; Aguessy, B.A.; Zohoun, T.H.
Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction 24(5): 561-564
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-2315 PMID: 7499748 Document Number: 441106
In Benin, as in other African countries, low birthweight infants is a major health problem with poorly understood causes. In a casecontrol study of 2114 mothers recruited before discharge from the "Lagune" maternity ward at Cotonou, we examined the relationship between spontaneous abortion and low birthweight infants in women who delivered between 15 June 1990 and 20 July 1991. Information was obtained by interview then on the basis of hospital files. The results indicated that there was no association between spontaneous abortion and premature birth : OR = 1.00 (95% CI = 0.61-1.56). Likewise, the relationship between a past history of spontaneous abortion and intrauterine growth retardation was not significant: OR = 1.19 (95% CI = 0.83-1.71). Adjustment with characteristics of the mothers did not improve the correlations. It is concluded that there is no relationship between a past history of spontaneous abortion and low birthweight.