ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Newborns of single mothers constitute a high risk population for intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) and neonatal mortality. AIM: Our study analysed the influence of this socio-economic factor on neonatal mortality and morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective cohort compiling all births resulting from illegitimate pregnancies reported between January 2001 and December 2003 at the Charles Nicolle hospital (Tunis-Tunisia) "IG = illegimate group" (n=75), apparied for mothers gestity, parity and age, to 75 legitimate births "LG=legitimate group" reported after or before each illegitimate birth. RESULTS: The mean age for mothers in the "IG" was 24.3 years. The mean of prenatal consultations was 0.5 in the "IG" vs. 5.2 in the "LG" (p < 0.001). Delivery by caesarean section was of 6.7% in the "IG" vs. 18.7% in the "LG" (p = 0.049). Prematurity was observed in 17% in the "IG" vs. 8% in "LG". IUGR was observed in 29% of "IG" vs. 4% in "LG" (p < 0.001). Neonatal mortality was of 4.1% in "IG" vs. 1.3% in "LG". CONCLUSION: These results indicate the importance of illegitimate pregnancies as a demographic risk factor of neonatal morbidity. The IUGR was the most significant risk factor associated to illegitimate pregnancies.
