Adolescent pregnancy: An important issue for paediatricians and primary care providers—A position paper from the European academy of paediatrics

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy and childbearing, remain a widespread health-related problem with potential short and long-term consequences. Comprehensive social, economic, environmental, structural, and cultural factors heavily impact on adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and early pregnancy. Health professionals can play a pivotal role in the prevention of unplanned pregnancy. Improved access to family planning, sexuality education in schools, community-based interventions, and policies contribute greatly to reduce the risk of adolescent pregnancy and the adoption of respectful and responsible sexual behaviour. Additionally, health care professionals can support pregnant adolescents in making decisions under these circumstances and provide adequate health care. This review highlights actions that can guide healthcare professionals in empowering young adolescents to become more aware and capable of making informed decisions about their sexual life, health, and future.

Obstetric practice differences between Syrian refugees and non‐Syrian nonrefugee gravidae: A retrospective cross‐sectional study

“…On one side, higher rates of adolescent pregnancies among refugees have been described and could be attributed to cultural aspects, e.g., the misapprehension of security in times of harshness. 6,8 In part, younger age might explain the lower prevalence of maternal disease in the SR group in our study. Along with the lower rates of CS, these observations support the "classical" theory of the "healthy migrant effect" in the field of obstetrics.…”

“…Differences in maternal age may also exert effects on perinatal outcomes. On one side, higher rates of adolescent pregnancies among refugees have been described and could be attributed to cultural aspects, e.g., the misapprehension of security in times of harshness 6,8 . In part, younger age might explain the lower prevalence of maternal disease in the SR group in our study.…”

“…Given the association with adverse events, we defined adolescent and advanced maternal age pregnancies as those occurring before the woman reached the age of 18 and those affecting women older than 35 years, respectively. 8,9 Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels <11 g/dL. 10 Undergoing any oral glucose tolerance test as well as the diagnosis of gestational diabetes were extracted.…”

Gestation in Teenage women between 15 to 19 years. Assessment of five years in a General Hospital.

“…Research suggests that adolescent girls, compared with older women, are at greater risk of inadequate prenatal health care (ANC), cephalopelvic disproportion, obstructed labor, and death during pregnancy and childbirth [12][13][14][15][16]. Adolescent girls' height and pelvic dimensions are only complete two years after menarche, which may be related to an increased risk of cephalopelvic disproportion and consequently obstructed labor [14,15].…”

Birth-related posttraumatic stress disorder and negative childbirth experience related to maternal functioning among adolescent mothers: a cross-sectional study

“…Adolescent pregnancy is an important issue in terms of reproductive health [ 15 ] which is associated with accepting new roles and responsibilities and physical, social, and psychological changes [ 16 ]. Adolescent mothers have to overcome two crises at the same time: motherhood and maturity [ 17 ].…”