ABSTRACT
Negative natural increase in the population, decrease of total fertility rate, as well as older age of first pregnancy are characteristic phenomena for the population of Poznan. At the other end of the spectrum there are cases of underage pregnancies where young mothers are emotionally immature and unprepared to act as a mother. An analysis of underage deliveries based on medical notes was conducted in Gynecological/Obstetric Ward in District General Hospital in Poznan in the years 1996-2001. In the research following factors were considered: duration of the pregnancy, maternal age, reasons for admission of the parturient, as well as neonatal Apgar score, birth weight and number of children delivered. Out of all deliveries there were 2.3% of underage deliveries in the period studied. Amongst the parturients the majority (60.4%) were 17 years old and 15 of them were multiparas who already delivered one baby in the past. There was only one case of twins. 75.3% were normal deliveries, 20.9% cesarean section--both between 38-42 gestational weeks as within the population of all parturients. Main reasons for admission were: the risk of premature labour, PIH, foetal malposition. There were 241 underage deliveries with one stillbirth. The weight of the majority of the newborn fell between 2500-3999 g. In 10 cases the condition of the newborn was considered serious and very serious.
