Maternal-fetal outcome associated with adolescent pregnancy in a tertiary referral center: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to compare pregnancy outcomes of early-middle adolescent, late adolescent and adult women. Material and methods: The study focused on early-middle adolescent (n = 145), late adolescent (n = 1655) and adult (n = 1585) women who gave birth during 2014 through 2017, utilizing data obtained from the Zeynep Kamil Women and Children's Health Training and Research Hospital. Pregnancy outcomes were determined according to the rates of pregnancy complications, including method of delivery, birth weight, as well as the rate of newborn intensive care admissions. Results: Comparisons between the studied groups for various pregnancy complications showed highest rates of preterm deliveries (PD), preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and neonatal intensive care unit admission in early-middle adolescent group, whereas the highest cesarean section rates were observed in the adult group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Analysis of the data revealed that adolescent pregnancy, especially the early-middle adolescent pregnancies, is associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes.