Adolescent Pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the obstetric outcomes in adolescent and adultprimigravida. Study Design: A comparative, cross sectional study. Setting: Gynae unit 3,Jinnah hospital, Lahore. Period: One year from Jan-Dec 2014. Methodology: Study populationwas adolescent primigravida (<19 years) and adult primigravida between the ages 20-29 years,250 in each group who were > 24 weeks of gestation. Obstetric complications were recordedas percentages of anaemia, pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage,gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm delivery, instrumental delivery, cesarean section rate, lowbirth weight, Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes and NNU admission. Data was entered into SPSS 16.Chi square test applied and a p-value of<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The meanage of adolescent group was 18.4+ 0.56 years while it was 24+2.47 years in adult primigravida.The data revealed that the adolescent mothers are at higher risk of certain obstetric risks whencompared to adult primigravida .These include anaemia ( 41.2% VS 17.6%), pregnancy inducedhypertension (14.4% VS 1.6%), preterm delivery (21.6% VS 13.6% ), instrumental delivery (6.4%VS 1.6%), cesarean section rate (24% VS 12%), low birth weight (20.4% VS 8%), Apgar score<7 at 5 minutes (4% VS 2%) and NNU admission (19.2% VS 8%). The risk of antepartumhemorrhage (1.6% VS 1.2%), postpartum hemorrhage (0.8% VS 1.6%), gestational diabetesmellitus (1.2% VS 2%) and malpresentation (1.6% VS 2%) were not different in two groups.Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancy is associated with a higher rates of certain obstetric riskslike anemia, preterm delivery, pregnancy induced hypertension, instrumental delivery, cesareansection and poor neonatal outcome However the risk of antepartum hemorrhage, postpartumhemorrhage and malpresentation is no greater than adult pregnant mothers.