Microcephaly in north-east Brazil: a retrospective study on neonates born between 2012 and 2015.

Objective: To assess the number of children born with microcephaly in the State of Paraíba, north-east Brazil.

Methods: We contacted 21 maternity centres belonging to a paediatric cardiology network, with access to information regarding more than 100 000 neonates born between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2015. For 10% of these neonates, nurses were requested to retrieve head circumference measurements data from delivery-room books.