Purpose: to verify the association of the use of abortifacient drugs during the first 3 months of gestation with the occurrence of congenital malformations in live births. Patients and Methods: population-based case-control study through selection of the first six live births on a day, over the period of a year, at a public maternity in Salvador, Bahia, with a total of 800 cases. Studies were performed through investigation of birth records in the search of congenital malformation data, observation of selected malformed newborns, followed by interview with the mothers for collection of anamnesis data, by application of a questionnaire. Later on data were statistically evaluated by Epi-Info 5.0 software. Results: puerperae came from a low socialeconomic class (74.8%), without any or almost any schooling (61.1%). The general percentage of birth defects was estimated at 4.7%. Out of 800 puerperae, 16% reported abortifacient drug intake during the first 3 months of gestation and 10.9% of them had malformed babies. This incidence was 3.6% in children whose mothers denied the intake of any abortifacient drugs. Agents most commonly taken in those unsuccessful abortive attempts were misoprostol (Cytotec) and herbs, specially "alumã" (Vermonia baiensis Tol) and "espinho cheiroso" (Kanthoxilum shifolium Lam), which, according to the literature, do not really have any abortive effect. Conclusion: the study revealed the extension of intentional miscarriage in a low income population and showed that the occurrence of birth defects could be related to gestational exposure to misoprostol and herbal medicine intake.
Miscarriage; Congenital defects; Misoprostol; Herbal medicines
