The obstetric implications of teenage pregnancy

Abstract

A retrospective review was performed on the obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancies delivered in 1 year in a tertiary centre. The results were compared with the rest of the obstetric population in the same hospital in the same year. The teenage mothers (n = 194) had increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (5.2 versus 1.0%, P < 0.05), and preterm labour (13.0 versus 7.0%, P < 0.01), but decreased incidence of gestational glucose intolerance (3.1 versus 11.4%, P < 0.001), when compared with the non-teenage mothers (n = 4914). There was no difference in the types of labour, while the incidence of Caesarean section was lower (4.1 versus 12.6%, P < 0.001) in the teenage mothers. Although the incidence of low birthweight was higher in the teenage mothers (13.5 versus 6.5%, P < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the mean birthweight, gestation at delivery, incidence of total preterm delivery, or perinatal mortality or morbidity. The results indicate that the major risk associated with teenage pregnancies is preterm labour, but the perinatal outcome is favourable. The good results accomplished in our centre could be attributed to the free and readily available prenatal care and the quality of support from the family or welfare agencies that are involved with the care of teenage mothers.

Efeito da Idade Materna sobre os Resultados Perinatais

“…Esse resultado está em concordância com relatos recentes, nos quais se observaram maiores taxas de parto espontâneo e menores incidências de cesariana nas adolescentes 17,18 . Lao e Ho 19 , comparando os resultados obstétricos de primíparas adolescentes com aqueles de mulheres na faixa etária dos 20 aos 34 anos, em que para cada caso era considerado um controle atendido no mesmo dia e pela mesma equipe médica, confirmaram os resultados acima destacados, evidenciando maior taxa de parto normal e menor de cesariana no grupo de adolescentes, mesmo naquelas com idade inferior a 16 anos.…”

“…Embora tenha sido freqüentemente relatado que o baixo peso ao nascimento seja mais freqüente entre os recém-nascidos de mães adolescentes [1][2][3][4]17,23 , pouco tem sido investigado sobre o quanto isso se deve à prematuridade ou redução do crescimento intra-uterino. Neste estudo, evidenciou-se um percentual de 8,4% de recém-nascidos de baixo peso no grupo de adolescentes, o que foi significativamente superior ao observado no Grupo II (6,5%).…”

Nicaraguan Migration and the Prevalence of Adolescent Childbearing in Costa Rica

“…Adolescent mothers of both low-and high-income countries, especially mothers below the age of 15, have a higher risk of giving birth to preterm (<37 weeks) and low birth weight (<2500 g) babies (WHO, 2004a, Fraser et al, 1995, Lao and Ho, 1997, which are both major causes of increased infant morbidity and mortality (Makinson, 1985, WHO 2004a. Perinatal and neonatal mortality are also higher among infants of adolescent mothers (WHO, 2006, Zabin andKiragu, 1998), and the rates are highest in babies of very young girls (Lloyd, 2005).…”

Obstetrical and Perinatal Outcomes of Teenage Pregnant Women Attending a Secondary Hospital in Hyderabad

“…An estimated 16 million babies are delivered by adolescent mothers worldwide and majority of these births occur in low and middle income countries putting an enormous burden on already limited resources [5] [6] [7]. According to latest Pakistan Demographic Health Survey, about 16% of women begin child bearing before reaching 18 years of age.…”

“…Fetal and neonatal outcomes associated with teenage pregnancy are preterm delivery, low birth weight infant, respiratory distress syndrome, still birth and perinatal death [5] [7].…”