Obstetric outcomes of teenage pregnancy versus adult pregnancy in Egypt

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the obstetric outcome of the teenage pregnancy with that of adult pregnancy. 3260 women with first pregnancy attending Assiut hospital for delivery participated in the study. According to mother age the women were assigned into one of two groups; the 1[st] group included 847 women; the teenage group [primigravida with age of nineteen or less] and the 2[rd] group included 2413 women, the elderly group [primigravida with age more than nineteen]. A structural questionnaire was conducted including background information that covers details of socioeconomic status, obstetric history and complication, delivery and its complications andietal and neonatal outcomes. Complete medical and obstetric examination was performed for every woman in the study as well as their born baby. Only 847 [26.0%] teenagers were women [74.0%] were adults. Teenage women had significantly higher percentages of being housewives [97. 7% versus 92. 7%], residing in rural area [87. 0% versus 76.5%] and had low socioeconomic score [l91 +/- 6.3 versus 21.0 +/- 7.1] Teenage pregnancies had higher incidence of anemia [320% versus 25.7%], pre-eclampsia [12.6% versus 9.1%], preterm labor [17. 6% versus 13.3%], vaginal delivery with and without episiotomy, lower Apgar score [8.5 +/- 2.1 versus 8.7 +/- 2. 0] and higher rate of neonatal reference to the pediatric intensive care unit [PICU] [19.3% versus 16. 4%]. Older group pregnancies had higher incidence of gestational-hypertension [4.9% versus 1.2%], mean gestational age [37.1 +/- 49 versus 36.5 +/- 5.2], higher incidence of cesarean section [46. 7% versus 33.3%], longer hospital stay [hours] [11.9 +/- 9 versus 8.8 +/- 5.5], higher incidence of maternal mortality [3.8% versus 2.4%] and higher mean birth weight [2847 +/- 701 versus 2719 +/- 686 gm]. But the incidence of eclampsia, abortion, stillbirth, multiple pregnancy and congenital anomalies were similar in both groups. These results suggest an increased risk for some adverse pregnancy outcomes among teenage group as anemia, preterm labor and low birth weight but this may be dependent on the high-quality maternity care rather than maternal age