Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes among Adolescents in Northwest Russia: A Population Registry-Based Study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess whether adolescents have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) compared to adult women. We used data on 43,327 births from the population-based Arkhangelsk County Birth Registry, Northwest Russia, for 2012–2014. The perinatal outcomes included stillbirth, preterm birth (<37 and <32 weeks), low and very low birthweight, 5 min Apgar score <7 and <4, perinatal infections, and the need for neonatal transfer to a higher-level hospital. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the associations between age and APO. Altogether, 4.7% of deliveries occurred in adolescents. Both folic acid intake and multivitamin intake during pregnancy were more prevalent in adults. Adolescents were more likely to be underweight, to smoke, and to have infections of the kidney and the genital tract compared to adult women. Compared to adults, adolescents were at lower risk of low birthweight, a 5 min Apgar score <7, and need for neonatal transfer. Adolescents had no increased risk of other APO studied in the adjusted analysis, suggesting that a constellation of other factors, but not young age per se, is associated with APO in the study setting.

Hospital-Based Study of Maternal, Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes in Adolescent Pregnancy Compared to Adult Women Pregnancy

“…Other authors reported contradictory results [43]. Usynina A et al, (2018) reported for a higher rate of neonatal transfer to higher level hospital of adolescent women compared to adults (11.2% vs 9.8%, p = 0.042) [40]. Lower Apgar score in a 1 st minute was more common in newborns of adult mothers, compared to adolescent mothers.…”

Adverse neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in Northwest Ethiopia

“…The rate of pregnancy among adolescents is increasing, especially in developing countries, with higher adverse health outcomes [3]. More than 11 percent of births globally were because of adolescent mothers [4, 5]. Previous studies have shown that adolescent pregnancy is associated with physical, social problems [2], and affects the economic status of girls, their families, and countries [2, 6].…”

“…Previous reports have shown a conflicting idea in terms of the adverse neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancy. For example, a study conducted in Russia showed that there is a lower risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes like low birth weight (LBW), 5-minute Apgar score, and neonatal admission compared to adult women [5]. A study conducted in Boston city hospital showed that younger age at pregnancy (less than 16 years old) doesn’t predict the likelihood of poor neonatal outcomes (LBW and preterm birth) [19].…”

“…On the other hand, studies conducted in Cameroon [22], and low-middle income countries [23] showed a higher risk of LBW and preterm birth [22] among babies born from adolescent compared to adult women. Some of the reasons for such difference, among others, can be the difference in the age group (among the study and control group), the difference in the definition of the outcome variables, and the use or non-use of variables to adjust the confounders for the adverse neonatal outcomes [5]. Moreover, maternal and neonatal mortality is an important reproductive health indicator that can show the health care delivery system of a country.…”

Teenage Reproductive Health: Pregnancy, Contraception, Unsafe Abortion, Fertility

“…Contributions to international health science from Russian authors are rapidly increasing. Usynina et al [ 6 ] discuss adverse pregnancy outcomes among adolescents in Northwest Russia. The study is based on the upcoming and rapidly developing Arkhangelsk Birth Registry, aiming to assess whether adolescents have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO), compared to adult women.…”