Management of Pregnancy and Childbirth among Adolescents at the Regional University Teaching Hospital of Parakou

Abstract

Objective: Investigation on the management of childbirth among adolescents at the CHD-U of Parakou (Benin). Patients and study method: It was a cross-sectional study with descriptive purpose carried out during the period from March 1 to August 31, 2014. Its target consisted of 110 primiparous adolescents aged 14-19 years. The study was conducted in the gynecology and obstetrics unit of the Regional University Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori in Parakou. Results: Childbirth prevalence among female adolescents was 12.7%. The mean age of those adolescents was 17.7 ± 1.4 years. The adolescent mothers with student status dominated with 33.6%, 56.4% were married, 32.7% were not educated. 72.7% of them had a low socioeconomic status. 60.0% of the cases did not benefit from a lack of pregnancy monitoring or the latter was of poor quality among them. Dystocia were the diagnosis most encountered on admission. Vaginal delivery was dominant with 60.9% of the cases but about seven out of ten of those childbirths needed an episiotomy (67.2%). One childbirth out of ten (10.5%) got complicated by a perineal tear. Stillbirth rate was 8.2% and newborns had on average a good APGAR score at birth. Thirty-five (35) newborns i.e., 32.7% had a weight below 2500 g. Among the reasons for transfers to the neonatology division the leading ones are low birth weight (LBW), immediate neonatal distress and existence of pathologies during pregnancy. Conclusion: Among the adolescents in Parakou, pregnancy is a common reality and seems to be characterized by high risk.