Maternal outcomes of the childbirth among primiparous teenagers in South Kivu, RD Congo

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescent births remain at high risk. The aim of this study was to determine the maternal prognosis of births among primiparous teenagers in South Kivu.Methods: A case-control study of 250 primiparous teenagers (cases) and another group of 500 primiparous adults aged 20-34 years (control) was performed in 4 General Reference Hospitals of South Kivu in Republic Democratic Congo. The study period was from January to December 2017. A survey sheet was used to collect the data. The analysis were performed using SPSS 22.0 and EPIINFO version 7.2.2.6.Results: Out of a total of 8490 deliveries recorded at the 4 General Reference Hospitals in South Kivu in 2017, authors recorded 250 deliveries of primiparous teenagers, or 2.9%. The maternal prognosis of adolescent deliveries was more marked by a high rate of caesarean section (OR=13.5), the presence of complications (OR=7.37), prolonged labor (OR=4.51), lesions soft tissues (OR=3.92), intraoperative bleeding (OR=3.26) and fever by puerperal infection (OR=2.13).Conclusions: The frequency of childbirth among primiparous teenagers and maternal-neonatal prognosis has been determined and is of concern. The prevention of adolescent obstetric complications includes the respect for the legal age of marriage, adequate antenatal care and childbirth in a specialized hospital setting.