Obstetric Outcomes of Teenage Pregnancies: A Hospital-based Study in a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Background: Teenage pregnancy is a pregnancy in a woman of age group 10-19 years which is a worldwide public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Pregnancy during this period is usually unplanned and is associated with increase maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The overall aim is to study the obstetric outcome in teenage pregnancy and comparing them with the adult group.

Materials and methods: A hospital-based study was conducted among teenager primiparous women aged 13-19 years while comparing them with 20-24 years primiparous delivering in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology in Pokhara, Nepal from July 20, 2017 to November 12, 2017. Medical details of the patients were retrospectively collected from the medical record section and used to record sociodemographic features, mode of deliveries, and gestational age at delivery, fetal and maternal outcomes on a structured observational checklist.

Results: The incidence of teenage pregnancy was 11.22%. The mean age of teenager and control groups were 18.17± 0.86 and 22.13± 1.61 years respectively. The incidence of teenage pregnancy was higher in Dalits. Literacy was another factor that made a significant difference. The study group in comparision with the control had more vaginal delivery without episiotomy and less cesarean delivery. But there was no statistical significance in the incidence of instrumental delivery. The incidence of live birth, intrauterine fetal death, neonatal death and NICU admission had no statistical significance.

Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy had more vaginal deliveries and less cesarean sections. Teenage pregnancy is not associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.