Obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancies at a tertiary care hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: Maternal age is an important factor in determinant of obstetric outcome. Teenage pregnancy constitutes ahigh risk pregnancy associated with complications arising from adverse physiological, anatomical and socio economic factors. Objective: To determine the obstetric outcome of adolescent pregnancies managed at Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective review of teenage pregnancies seen at UDUTH, Sokoto, Nigeria over a 2 year period, 2002 to 2003 was carried out. The outcome was analysed and compared with the controls. Results: Teenage pregnancies accounted for 11.8% of 4498 deliveries within the period. Majority of the teenagers (79.1%) were nullipara. Pregnancy induced hypertension, eclampsia, intrauterine fetal death, anaemia, cephalopelvic disproportion and preterm labour were the mains complications observed and were significantly higher in this group than in non- teenage mothers (P