Outcome of teenage pregnant mother in Uyo, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Teenage pregnancies are high risk pregnancies due to the relative physical immaturity of the Mother and associated foetal risk.
Objectives: To determine the incidence, obstetric and foetal outcome of teenage pregnancies in this environment.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all teenage pregnancies delivered at the University of Teaching Hospital between January 2001 and December 2003. These were then compared with mature mother (>19 years) who delivered in the hospital within the same period.
Results: Teenagers constituted 9.8% of mothers who delivered in this hospital during the study period. Majority of them (57.3%) were unmarried and belonged to the lower socio-economics classes. The commonest maternal complications were anaemia (30%) and malaria (21.6%). The caesarean section and instrumental delivery rates of the teenage mothers (22.5% and 13.6%) was significantly higher than of the mature mother 15.5% and 5.9%), P< 0.001). There were also statistically significant differences between teenage and mature mothers in the number of pattern deliveries (19.2% vs 9.2%, P< 0.001), low birth weights (21.6% vs 6.2%, P <0.001) and still births (9.9% vs 4.6%, P< 0.001).
Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy is associated with significant maternal and foetal risks. Adolescent friendly reproductive health services are recommended to prevent these pregnancies, adequate social support as well as the provision of effective antenatal/delivery facilities.


Keywords: Teenagers, Mothers, Outcome, Uyo.

Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 10(1) 2006: pp. 20-23