Comparative Obstetric Outcomes between Adolescent Pregnancies and Pregnancies in Women Aged 20-30 years

Abstract

Objective To compare obstetric outcomes between adolescent pregnancies and pregnancies in women aged 20-30 years.

Methods Six hundreds and fifty six singleton nulliparous adolescent pregnancies (age range 13-17 years) as study group compared with 1,344 control (age range 20-30 years) who were selected by systematic sampling between January 1994 and December 1996. Percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, Fisher-exact test, t-test, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used for data analysis.

Results Comparing the obstetric outcomes that affected maternal and perinatal health, the antepartum and postpartum complications, low birthweight, low Apgar score and perinatal morbidity in adolescent pregnancies were significantly higher than the control group. Operative obstetric in adolescent pregnancies was significant lower than the control group. Intrapartum complications and perinatal mortality were not significantly different in both groups.

Conclusion Younger adolescent pregnancies had poor obstetric outcomes compared with pregnancies age 20-30 years. Younger adolescents should be a special target for pregnancy prevention and intervention.