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PURPOSES: to analyze the frequency, associated risk factors for the occurrence of spina bifida and differences between the newborns carrying this malformation and the newborns' morbidities. METHODS: data were obtained through interview of 47 cases and 47 controls, born in the five maternities of the city of Pelotas, during the period from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2003. This is a population-based case-control study, comprising all births occurred in hospitals. The control was the normal newborn that was born after each case with spina bifida. All data were obtained by using the model ECLAMC questionnaire. The planning of analysis of data included the use of the Student's t test, chi² and odds ratio. RESULTS: in this period there were approximately 77,000 births. Of these, 1,043 (1.35%) presented some type of congenital malformation. Among these, 47 of 162 anomalies of the neural tube (29%) were spina bifida cases. Significant differences have been found in the number of previous stillborn babies, as well as a higher rate of spina bifida cases in females. In this study, many factors such as the use of medical drugs; acute and chronic illnesses; number of gestations; age, education and occupation of the parents, among others, did not influence the occurrence of spina bifida. CONCLUSIONS: spina bifida must be considered as an important factor of risk for perinatal morbidity, and its occurrence is associated with a history of previous stillborn babies.