Obstetrical Implications of Pregnancy in Primigravidae Aged 16 Years or Less

Abstract

A series of 100 consecutive white primigravid patients aged 13 to 16 years was analysed and compared with a control group of 100 consecutive white 22-year-old primigravid patients. In the former there was a high incidence of hypertension and toxaemia. The prematurity rate was higher than in the control group, as was the perinatal mortality. There was also a greater incidence of prolonged labour. Though the foetal head was not engaged before labour in half the patients, the instrumental delivery and caesarean section rate was very low. A comparison between this series and other published studies is made. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.