Does Incomplete Growth and Development Predispose Teenagers to Preterm Delivery? A Template for Research

Abstract

Pregnant teenagers are in better physical condition, suffer from fewer chronic diseases, and engage in fewer health-risky behaviors than socioeconomically similar pregnant adults, but give birth to a disproportionately large number of preterm infants. This systematic review of the adolescent pregnancy literature defines the unique risks associated with being young and pregnant by examining how the physical and psychosocial changes that are characteristic of puberty and adolescence interact with traditional risk factors for preterm delivery. The need for age-specific interventions is discussed and recommendations for future research are made.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes among nulliparous adolescents in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a multi‐country study

“…7 Alternatively, the gynaecological immaturity of adolescents, which is characterised by a short uterine cervix and alkaline vaginal pH, may predispose them to an increased risk of subclinical lower genital infection, leading to an increased risk of preterm delivery. 26 The increased risk of perinatal death among infants born to adolescent mothers disappeared after further adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, the number of antenatal care visits, and gestational age at birth. This finding supports the results of previous studies, which have concluded that the increased risk of neonatal mortality among adolescents is largely attributable to preterm birth and the socio-economic circumstances of younger mothers.…”

Effect of Young Maternal Age on Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes: Results from the Tertiary Center in Turkey

“…Younger maternal age is associated with being unmarried, primiparous and under-educated, alcohol/substance abuse, heavy smoking and inadequate prenatal care, which may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes (2,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). Young mothers may also be more likely to have a pregnancy due to sexual abuse compared with adult mothers, which could lead to an impaired stress response or to variable behaviors that increase the likelihood of preterm delivery (22).…”

Effect of Young Maternal Age on Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes: Results from the Tertiary Center in Turkey

“…Young mothers may also be more likely to have a pregnancy due to sexual abuse compared with adult mothers, which could lead to an impaired stress response or to variable behaviors that increase the likelihood of preterm delivery (22). To evaluate the effect of younger maternal age on pregnancy outcomes, these confounding variables have to be considered.…”

“…Possible explanations for adverse pregnancy outcomes have been thought to be their biological immaturity or poor social, economic and behavioral factors such as smoking, alcohol/substance abuse, malnutrition and inadequate prenatal care (17-22). However, the previous studies had conflicting findings regarding whether the effect of young maternal age on adverse pregnancy outcomes were caused by their biological immaturity or poor social, economic and behavioral factors (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). …”