[The results obtained from the first certificate of health between 1972 and 1979 at Ille-et-Vilaine (author's transl)].

The authors describe and comment on some of the results that have been obtained in a French département (Ille-and-Vilaine) using the information obtained from the first health certificate which has been set up compulsorily for all children in the eight days following delivery. This analysis makes it possible to carry out an annual survey of the demographic course of affairs (birth rate, perinatal mortality rate) and compare these with France as a whole. The certificate gives interesting information about labour (multiple births, Caesarean births, the state of the infant at birth, weight, length, skull circumference, prematurity and small for dates), and the pathology of the first week of life (transfer to other hospitals and death). Malformations are as yet poorly registered and there is need to obtain more information from doctors. Correlations can be established, as for example between neonatal mortality and social class. Finally, using this first certificate will make it possible to open a file on high-risk women for a possible future pregnancy. the authors point out that the contents obtained in the first certificate had to be modified and will later give extra information about the pregnancies, the number of antenatal visits, the number of admissions to hospital, and the preparation for delivery, etc. The results that have up till now been given for various maternity departments allow each obstetrician to audit the work in his department.