Effect of maternal age on the course and outcome of pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Delayed childbirth has become a common phenomenon in the developed world as a result of social, educational, and economic factors. To demonstrate the effect of age on the pregnancy course and outcome among young and old mothers. A cross sectional study was conducted at Al-Kadhimia Teaching Hospital. Data was collected by a trained medical students during the period from first of February to April 2010.Total of 230 women were included in the study using a convenient random sample technique, the sample was divided into two groups, 128 women<30 years old [group A] and 102 women>/=35 years old [group B], and were taken from obstetric department in Al-kadhimiya teaching hospital. Information were directly obtained from the mother herself and filled in a well designed questionnaire form. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding some sociodemographic characteristics like address, education, occupation, antenatal care. There was a significant increase in the presence of medical and obstetric complication, parity, history of abortion and No of abortion in the older age group mothers. As to the outcome of pregnancy, twin delivery and low birth weight babies were significantly higher in older age group mothers. Interestingly, there was no significant difference regarding presence of congenital anomalies in babies of mothers in both groups. Mothers>/=35 years old showed higher rate of obstetric complication than young age group of mothers, while congenital anomalies were higher but not significant among young age group of mothers [