RESUMO
BACKGROUND: intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is related with neonatal morbidity and mortality. The detection and prenatal monitoring are necessary for an early intervention. The objective was to establish the prevalence and risk factors associated with intrauterine growth restriction in the university hospital Dr. José Eleuterio González. METHODS: we performed an observational, cross-sectional study, during the period from May 2009 to April 2010. The sample was divided into two groups, asymmetrical and symmetrical IUGR. RESULTS: the global prevalence of IUGR was 13.5 %. We included 464 patients, 324 (70 %) with asymmetric IUGR and 140 (30 %) with symmetric IUGR. The maternal variables were not statistically significant (p = ns) between groups. We found a mean weight at birth higher (2548 ± 437.33) in the symmetric IUGR group (p < 0.01), as well as a higher vaginal delivery rate (p < 0.05) as compared with the asymmetrical IUGR group. The overall mortality rate was higher in the asymmetric IUGR group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: prevalence of IUGR in our population is higher than that reported in the literature; there were more preterm infants and higher mortality in the asymmetric group.