Objective The overall objective of this work is to describe the prevalence of newborns with low birth weight in Rabat Souissi Maternity Hospital in 2010. The specific objective is to compare the population of preterm and small for gestational age, assess their immediate future and identify the causes.

Methods The study tok place at Rabat Souissi Maternity Hospital between January 1st 2010 and December 2010. Were enrolled, all newborns weighing < 2500 g. The main variables collected were gestational age, sex, route of extraction, Apgar at 5 min, the maternal age, parity, maternal disease history and immediate future of the newborn.

Results Of 14,808 live births registered during 2010, 1475 newborns had a birth weight less than 2500g or 9.96% of which 722 were small for gestational age, 728 were premature infants. Vaginal delivery was predominant in both populations. The average age of mothers was (28.22±6.83 vs 28.63±6.60) years (p = 0.89). The main etiologies encountered were the maternal genitourinary infections for prematurity (25.6%) while the main cause of low birth weight were gestational hypertension (11.7). As for becoming immediate mortality was about 11% in premature infants against 2% in small for gestational age. (p<0.001). Hospital transfers were in the range of 46.2%. The main indications were respiratory distress, infection, and perinatal asphyxia.