Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the influence of maternal age on birth weight and other related factors. METHODS: the present study consists of a retrospective cohort carried out in two public maternity hospitals in Maceió - Brazil. The sample consisted of 84 puerperal women (28 adolescents and 56 aged between 20 and 30 years) and their respective newborns. RESULTS: Teenage pregnancy was significantly associated with low birth weight, inadequate prenatal consultations number, disproportionate Roher Index, father and mother of the child not living in the same household and prematurity. A difference of 471.5g occurred in newborns from young adult mothers compared to children of teen mothers. The use of alcohol, drugs and contraceptive methods did not obtain statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the unfavorable socioeconomic and perinatal conditions of teen mothers compared to young adults, maternal age less than 16 years seems to have influenced the lower mean birth weight and the association of low birth weight and delayed uterine growth in this group of adolescents.
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