Study of the early perinatal outcomes in babies born to young and older mothers

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy at young age has been recognized as one of the most important social and public health issues all over the world. Studies done have shown that these are the adverse outcomes and complications linked to pregnancy at a young age such as the need for instrumental delivery or cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, prematurity, low birth weight, low APGAR score, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions, and perinatal mortality are significant. The aim of our study was to know the neonatal outcomes (birth weight, APGAR score, and NICU admissions) in young mothers and older mothers and to compare the neonatal outcomes of these two groups. Materials and Methods: Our study was a retrospective chart-based study, done in neonates delivered to young mothers (19–21 years) and older mothers (22–30 years). Parameters included in our study were period of gestation, birth weight, APGAR at 1 min and 5 min, NICU admissions, and neonatal outcomes such as asphyxia, hypoglycemia, jaundice, convulsion, and sepsis. Data were recorded in a pro forma. Collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, Chi-square test, and odds ratio. Results: A total of 330 neonates were included in the study (165 cases and 165 controls). In young mothers, there was higher incidence of preterm deliveries, 60 cases as compared to 9 controls were of gestational age 28–34 weeks, 60 cases had low birth weight as compared to 21 babies in the control group, and 90 babies born to young mother's required NICU admissions as compared to 23 babies born to older mothers. Neonates born to younger mothers had a higher incidence of NICU admissions, hypoglycemia, sepsis, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia as compared to older mothers, whereas the incidence of APGAR at 1 min and 5 min showed no correlation between both the groups. Conclusion: Young mothers had a higher incidence of having preterm babies, low birth weight babies, with comorbidities and NICU admissions as compared to older mothers.