Obstetric Outcomes of Teenage Pregnancies: A Hospital-based Study in a Tertiary Care Center
Abstract
Background: Teenage pregnancy is a pregnancy in a woman of age group 10-19
years which is a worldwide public health problem in both developed and developing
countries. Pregnancy during this period is usually unplanned and is associated with
increase maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The overall aim is to study
the obstetric outcome in teenage pregnancy and comparing them with the adult
group. Materials and methods: - A hospital-based study was conducted among
teenager primiparous women aged 13-19 years while comparing them with 20-24
years primiparous delivering in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology in
Pokhara, Nepal from July 20, 2017 to November 12, 2017. Medical details of the
patients were retrospectively collected from the medical record section and used to
record sociodemographic features, mode of deliveries, and gestational age at delivery,
fetal and maternal outcomes on a structured observational checklist. Results: The
incidence of teenage pregnancy was 11.22% .The mean age of teenager and control
groups were 18.17± 0.86 and 22.13± 1.61 years respectively. The incidence of
teenage pregnancy was higher in Dalits. Literacy was another factor that made a
significant difference. The study group in comparision with the control had more
vaginal delivery without episiotomy and less cesarean delivery. But there was no
statistical significance in the incidence of instrumental delivery. The incidence of live
birth, intrauterine fetal death, neonatal death and NICU admission had no statistical
significance. Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy had more vaginal deliveries and less
cesarean sections. Teenage pregnancy is not associated with adverse maternal and
fetal outcomes.