Teenage pregnancy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Teenage pregnancy rates are falling in many high-resource settings, but for those who do conceive, the socioeconomic and educational disadvantage that ensues is often long lasting and intergenerational. The adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes can be ameliorated through antenatal and postnatal care that attends to the special needs of this group. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the social, obstetric and medical complications of teenage pregnancy and the role of the general practitioner (GP) in mitigating adverse outcomes. DISCUSSION: Management and prevention of teenage pregnancy requires broad efforts that involve schools, health services and the community. The GP has a key role in providing supportive continuity of care that spans the antenatal and crucial postnatal periods.