An Increased Adverse Fetal Outcome Has Been Observed among Teen Pregnant Women in Rural Eastern Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization, teenage pregnancies are high-risk due to increased risks of fetal and infant morbidity and mortality. This study compares adverse fetal outcomes between teen and adult pregnant women from rural Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women visiting maternity units from surrounding rural areas. A total of 481 teenagers (13-19 years old) and 481 adults (20-34 years old) women with a singleton pregnancy were included in the study. Two hospitals and 3 health centers were selected in Eastern Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Comparative analysis was carried out using the log-binomial regression model to identify factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in both categories. The results are reported in adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: High proportion of adverse fetal outcome was observed among teenage women than adult (34.9% vs 21%). Statistically significant difference ( P < .05) in the proportion of low birth weight (21.1% vs 9.3%), preterm birth (18.7% vs 10.6%), APGAR score at 5th minute (9.3% vs 4%) were found in teenagers compared to adult women. Antenatal care attendance (APR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.86); eclampsia (APR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.06); pre-eclampsia (APR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.67); and wealth index (rich) (APR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.94) were significantly associated with adverse fetal outcomes among the teenage women. Whereas intimate partner violence (APR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.90); preeclampsia (APR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.61, 5.69); antepartum hemorrhage (APR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.73, 4.46); and hyperemesis gravderm (APR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.79) were significantly associated with adverse fatal outcomes among the adult women. Conclusion: teenage pregnancy is associated with a high rate of adverse fetal outcomes. Early identification and treatment of problems during antenatal follow-up should be the mainstay to avert the massive adverse fetal effects.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Teenage Pregnancy at Selected Governmental Health Centers of Addis Ketema Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; September, 2023

“…The WHO views teenage pregnancies as high-risk pregnancies because they are linked to unfavorable outcomes for both mother and foetus [9]. Adolescent pregnancy is highly correlated with early sexual activity [10].…”

Pregnancy and Delivery Complications Between Adolescent and Adult Women at Mosul Maternity Teaching Hospitals: A Comparative Study

“…Complications of maternal and neonatal are also increased in adolescents due to many reasons such as the immaturity of the pelvis and nutritional insufficiency (8) A prospective cohort research exploring the association between maternal growth and outcomes revealed that sustained maternal growth in adolescent altered nutritional partitioning between maternal and fetal, which had a detrimental impact on fetal growth and preterm (9) .…”