Complications in adolescent pregnancy: systematic review of the literature.

Walter Fernandes De Azevedo,Michele Baffi Diniz,Carla Braz Evangelista,Lícia Maria Ricarte De Azevedo,Eduardo Sérgio Valério Borges Da Fonseca

doi:10.1590/s1679-45082015rw3127

Walter Fernandes De Azevedo, Michele Baffi Diniz + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-45082015rw3127

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Abstract

Sexual activity during adolescence can lead to unwanted pregnancy, which in turn can result in serious maternal and fetal complications. The present study aimed to evaluate the complications related to adolescent pregnancy, through a systematic review using the Medical Subject Headings: “pregnancy complication” AND “adolescent” OR “pregnancy in adolescence”. Only full original articles in English or Portuguese with a clearly described methodology, were included. No qualitative studies, reviews or meta-analyses, editorials, case series, or case reports were included. The sample consisted of 15 articles; in that 10 were cross-sectional and 5 were cohort studies. The overall prevalence of adolescent pregnancy was 10%, and among the Brazilian studies, the adolescent pregnancy rate was 26%. The cesarean delivery rate was lower than that reported in the general population. The main maternal and neonatal complications were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, prematurity and low birth weight, respectively. Adolescent pregnancy is related to increased frequency of neonatal and maternal complications and lower prevalence of cesarean delivery.

Highlights

Sexual activity in adolescence initiates earlier and earlier, with immediate undesirable consequences, such as an increased frequency of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and pregnancy, many times undesired, which may lead to an abortion.[1]In Brazil, during the period from 2000 to 2006, the Live Birth Information System (SINASC, Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos) recorded a decline in participation of births in mothers aged 15 to 19 years
From the biological point of view, among the consequences of pregnancy in adolescence are the high rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, anemia, gestational diabetes, delivery complications, determining an increase in maternal and fetal mortality.[4,5,6] It is important to note that some studies showed an increased trend of prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum intercurrent events among pregnant adolescents.[7,8]
The following descriptors were used from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), of the PubMed/MEDLINE database: “pregnancy complication” AND “adolescent” OR “pregnancy in adolescence”

Summary

Introduction

Sexual activity in adolescence initiates earlier and earlier, with immediate undesirable consequences, such as an increased frequency of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and pregnancy, many times undesired, which may lead to an abortion.[1]In Brazil, during the period from 2000 to 2006, the Live Birth Information System (SINASC, Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos) recorded a decline in participation of births in mothers aged 15 to 19 years. The proportion of liveborns whose mothers were not in the age group under 14 years of age remained stable. From the biological point of view, among the consequences of pregnancy in adolescence are the high rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, anemia, gestational diabetes, delivery complications, determining an increase in maternal and fetal mortality.[4,5,6] It is important to note that some studies showed an increased trend of prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum intercurrent events among pregnant adolescents.[7,8]. As to problems with the newborn, gestation during adolescence is associated with higher rates of low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery, respiratory diseases, and birth trauma, besides a higher frequency of neonatal complications and infant mortality.[9,10,11].

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