Aims of the study: a) to identify the risk factors associated with newborn babies' low birth weight in teenage mothers; b) to propose prevention strategies for lower-ing neonatal morbidity and mortality. SPHERE OF THE STUDY: the study was carried out at the maternity and neonatology service of the Abass Ndao hospital centre, a urban community hospital located in the Southern part of Dakar. MATIERIAL AND METHODS: this retrospective study was carried out between July 1, 1998 and June 31, 1999. All new mothers under 20 who had given birth to living newborn babies have been included in the study and categorised into two groups, according to their babies' birth weight: 1) a first group of teenagers whose newborn babies' birth weight was lower than 2,500 g (low birth weight); 2) a second group constituted of women whose newborn babies' birth weight was higher than 2,500 g, and which was used as a control. The socio-demographic, biometrics, maternal and obstetric factors have been analysed and compared.
Results: out of the 4,586 women in childbirth during the study period, 456 were under 20 years of age, which corresponds to a prevalence rate of 10%. One hundred and five women had newborns weighing less than 2,500 g, which corresponds to a prevalence rate of 23%. Certain factors were found to be significantly associated with low birth weight: low weight gain during pregnancy (p = 0.04), fewer antenatal consultations (0.006), and kidney-related syndromes during pregnancy (0.0005).
Conclusion: The results of that study allow us to recommend the following strategies: - control and improvement of nutritional behaviour during pregnancy; campaigning for a better attendance at antenatal consultation services for the early detection of pathologies during pregnancy and for preventing kidney-related syndromes.