Chronic renal failure (CRF) represents the major cause of mortality in the nephrology unit in Ivory Coast because the means for appropriate management are lacking. The present study was performed to investigate the risk factors for CRF so that strategies for prevention could be elaborated. A case-control study was performed prospectively at the Yopougon Teaching Hospital in Abidjan from January 2006 to December 2006. Factors known to cause CRF were investigated in patients and controls. Their prevalence rates were compared with the general population. A total of 280 patients and 113 controls were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 37.88 ± 13.33 years and that of the controls was 41.5 ± 9.72 years. Both genders were equally represented. The main causes of CRF were chronic glomerulonephritis (47.48%), with HIV infection accounting for 15% of them, and essential hypertension (HTA) (25%). Essential HTA represented the only factor which, if untreated, inevitably leads to CRF. Thus, our study indicates that HTA is a major public health concern. All efforts should be implemented to reduce the high prevalence of HTA and the deleterious effect of this disorder in Ivory Coast.