A Hidden Burden On Public Health: Adolescent Pregnancy And Increased Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Objective: Adolescent pregnancy, associated with increased adverse pregnancy outcomes, is a major public health problem. This study aimed to assess adverse perinatal outcomes in adolescent pregnancies by comparing them with adult pregnancies. 
 Methods: 1104 adolescent and 2463 adult pregnant women were included. Presence of fetal anomaly, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, intrahepatic cholestasis, polyhydramnios, placenta previa, in utero mort fetus, uterine rupture, placenta abruption, umbilical cord prolapse, acute fetal distress, preterm birth, cesarean section, labor arrest, birth weight, macrosomia, dystocia, birth trauma, APGAR scores, neonatal intensive care unit admission, postpartum hemorrhage, hysterectomy, blood transfusion, and postpartum infection were recorded. 
 Results: Rates of acute fetal distress, preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission, postpartum hemorrhage, and blood transfusion were higher while birth weight, APGAR scores of fifth minutes, the rates of cesarean section, prolonged and arrested labor, gestational diabetes, and macrosomia were lower in adolescents. In regression analysis, being adolescent pregnant increase the risk of acute fetal distress by 1.4 times (aOR=1.439;95%CI=1.030-2.01, p=0.033), preterm birth by 1.7 times (aOR=1.692; 95%CI=1.104-2.596, p=0.016) and decrease the risk of gestational diabetes (aOR=0.182; 95%CI=0.116-0.286, p