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Obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancy and labour in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex, Ile‑Ife: A ten year review
Abstract
Background: Teenage or adolescent pregnancy is a recognized problem of public health significance. Every year, in excess of 14 million teenage girls give birth to a child; most of these young mothers are living in non‑industrialized countries. In view of the high prevalence, there is a need to audit such cases regularly to identify areas of possible improvement in its management. Results obtained from the audit can help in policy formulation and strengthen advocacy on issues ranging from abortion complications to early marriage.
Objectives: The objectives of this 10‑year retrospective study are to document the pattern of prevalence, presentation, obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancy, and labor at the Ife Hospital unit of obafemi awolowo university teaching hospitals complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife.
Materials and Methods: The study involved a 10‑year retrospective analysis of the data collected from the records of all cases of teenage pregnancies during the period from January 1999 to December 2008.
Results: During the period studied there were 6,250 deliveries of which teenage pregnancies accounted for 255 giving an incidence of 4.08% of the total deliveries. Majority (51.76%) of the pregnant teenagers were unbooked for antenatal care and 92.12% of them were nulliparous. Antepartum hemorrhage, abnormal presentations, obstructed labor, and anemia were the commonest complications seen occurring in 54.5, 36.5, 14.1, and 11.4 per cent of the teenagers respectively which was significantly higher when compared to the adult pregnant women (P = 0.000). Delivery was by caesarean section in 32.2% of the teenagers compared to 22.6% in the other women (P = 0.000). The overall perinatal mortality rate was 68.8/1000 births while teenagers had a perinatal mortality rate of 106/1000 births (P = 0.013).
Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy still remains a major recognized problem of public health significance. Most of these patients are from low socio‑economic class and their obstetric performance is relatively poor compared to the adult group. The concept of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights needs to be reinforced in most developing countries. Improving access to contraception and discouragement of early marriage will help to reduce teenage pregnancy and the overall burden of maternal mortality. Optimal care should be given to teenage mothers not only to improve the pregnancy outcome but also to enhance their social, educational, and emotional adjustment.
Key words: Ile‑Ife; outcome; pregnancy; teenage.
