Prevalence and outcome of teenage pregnancy among attendants of labour room in Bassion general hospital-Egypt (cross section study)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Teenage pregnancy is a global serious public health and distressing social problem, its prevalence varies among countries and among cities of the same country. Teenage mothers are exposed to maternal morbidity and mortality than women in their twenties. Objective: to assess prevalence of teenage pregnancy and their perinatal outcomes & immediate postpartum complications. Methodology: A cross -sectional study was conducted at a hospital that provides medical services to a rural area in Egypt, for six months period, started from 1st December 2019 till 1st June 2020. All women consecutively recruited were either full or preterm, singleton or multiple pregnancy. They were admitted in active labour at the delivery ward of Bassion general hospital. All demographic, prenatal and postnatal data during study period were recorded and tabulated. Results: All pregnant women who were admitted in active labour within the chosen period were 848 women, 73.6% were adults (>19 years, mean 24.06years), 26.4% were teenagers (≤ 19 years, with a mean 17.5 years). Iron deficiency anemia was the most prevalent medical complication in the teenage group 54%, followed by pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) 21.4%, caesarean section rate was 47 % and perineal tears were recorded in 25.9 % of the teenage group. Most of them had 2nd and 3rd degree tears. 25.9% of the newborns were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 4.9% due to prematurity, 4.5% due to prematurity and respiratory distress (RDs) and sepsis, 3.6% due to prematurity and RD, 1.3% due to RD ,0 4% due to meconium aspiration, 4.5% due to hyperbillirubinemia and 3.1% due to cyanosis. Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy is prevalent in this study sample in a rural area in Egypt and is associated with an increased risk of major degree perineal tear, PIH, preterm labour and iron deficiency anemia.