RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate longitudinal care needs and health service access among mother-infant pairs after adolescent pregnancy. METHODS: In a case-control study, data were analyzed from primiparous adolescent and adult mother-infant pairs who delivered at Reunion Island University Hospital, France, between January 2004 and December 2006, and were followed-up from maternity discharge until December 2011. Infant outcomes were hospitalization during the first 2 years of life, hospital access for "non-medical" reasons, and neuropsychiatric care. Maternal outcomes were number of pregnancies and childbirths, rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP) rate, pregnancy morbidities, and use of health services. RESULTS: Data from 476 cases and 476 controls were analyzed. Adolescent and control offspring did not differ in the measured outcomes. Adolescent and control mothers had, respectively, 2.4 ± 1.3 and 1.9 ± 1.1 pregnancies; 1.9 ± 0.8 and 1.6 ± 0.7 childbirths; and RRP rates of 7.6% and 2.7% (all P<0.001). Adolescents had less pregnancy-related pathologies at the index pregnancy and more frequently had natural deliveries (P<0.05). Younger mothers exhibited higher rates (19.7% versus 6.9%, P=0.001) of care for psychosocial reasons (suicide attempt, acute alcohol or drug intoxication, road accident, psychiatric problems, physical abuse). CONCLUSION: Concerns arise from the long-term psychosocial risk among adolescent mothers.