The obstetric implications of teenage pregnancy

Hum Reprod. 1997 Oct;12(10):2303-5. doi: 10.1093/humrep/12.10.2303.

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.

PIP: A retrospective review of the records of 194 adolescents and 4914 women 20 and older who delivered at Hong Kong's Tsan Yuk Hospital in a 12-month period indicated that young maternal age was not a significant risk factor in terms of pregnancy outcome. Compared with their older counterparts, teenage mothers had a significantly increased risk of preterm labor (13.0% versus 7.0%), but a significantly decreased incidence of gestational glucose intolerance (3.1% versus 11.4%). In addition, the incidence of cesarean section was lower in teenagers (4.1%) than in older mothers (12.6%). The incidence of low birth weight was significantly higher among teenage mothers (13.5%) than older mothers (6.5%), but there were no significant differences in terms of mean birth weight, gestation at delivery, incidence of total preterm delivery, or perinatal morbidity or mortality. Although the perinatal outcome was generally good in this series of teenage pregnancies, any adverse effects of young maternal age could have been masked by the free prenatal care and social support available to the study group.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Birth Weight
  • Cesarean Section
  • Diabetes, Gestational / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology