[Referral and delivery outcomes in Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo].

Background: The process of referral between the first and the second level of the health system in the Democratic Republic of Congo is poorly understood. This report intends to study the association between the referral and the hospital perinatal outcomes.

Methods: Delivery outcomes in a retrospective cohort of 1162 women admitted between June 95 and May 96, in two referral hospitals in Kivu were analyzed according to the referral status and the women's characteristics.