Obstetric risks of teenage pregnancy among al-Wahda Teaching Hospital deliveries-2005

الملخص EN

Objective: To estimate the frequency of teenage pregnancies as well as to identify the occurrence of obstetric risks among teenage women who had delivered in Al-Wahda Teaching Hospital from January 1st to December 31st 2005.

Methods This study is analytic case control study done in Al- Wahda Teaching Hospital, Aden, between January 1st and December 31st 2005.

All teenage pregnancies who delivered at Al-Wahda Teaching Hospital, an infant of 20 weeks or more of gestation, or an infant weighting 500 g or more (440) were identified according to WHO definition.

A control group of (440) cases of 20-25 years old mothers delivering in the same period at the same hospital were selected.

The source of data was direct interview after delivery, from medical and hospital record and by telephone.

Maternity staff recorded birth informations.

Mother's age was obtained by mother’s recall of her birth day or date of menarche or the age of her first child if she had.

Obstetric outcomes were compared by age between the teenage and control mothers.

Frequencies were calculated; Odds ratios (OR s) with 95% confidence interval (CI s) were estimated, and χ2 statistical test as needed using Epi-info 2004 computerized program version 3.3.

Results: Teenage pregnancies had significantly higher risks of eclampsia (OR 8.13), episiotomy (OR 2.25), newborns admission to NICU (OR 2.24), preterm labor (OR 1.8), and anemia (OR 1.78) compared with mothers aged 20-25 years.Young mothers had risk without statistical significance for malaria, urinary tract infection, toxoplasmosis, multiple pregnancy, eclampsia among primiparous group, transverse lie, obstructed labor, chorioamnionitis, uterine atonia, low birth wight, congenital anomaly and early neonatal death.

There was no statistical difference regarding antepartum hemorrhage, mode of delivery, fetal presentation and postpartum hemorrhage.

Conclusions: Pregnant teenagers were vulnerable to some obstetric risks comparison to older mothers.

Preventative efforts should be tailored to this age group and targeted to those problems known to be at higher risk in this age group such as nutritional support and utilization of optimum prenatal care.