Cocaine addiction is increasing in Costa Rica. The female population in fertile age is one of the targets of the increasing addiction to cocaine as are the products of their pregnancies. This study describes the incidence of babies born of cocaine addict mothers who deliverad at San Juan de Dios Hospital during 1994. The incidence was four per thousand new born. The obstetric history and social background of cocaine addicted mothers are compared with the obstetric history and social background of a control group composed of neonates hospitalized for other reasons. Results describe the profile of cocaine addicted mothers as pertaining to a low socioeconomic status, with an obstetric history of higher number of pregnancies and a high rate of miscarriages, as well as a very low level of prenatal care. The newborn from addicted mothers present a high rate of low birth weight (40%), are shorter and have smaller head circumference than the controls. They also present a greater prevalence of birth anomalies increasing hospital stays to double the controls.

cocaine; congenital anomalies; syphilis congenital; length of stay; low birth weight; risk factors