Implications and consequences of teenage pregnancy

L. Rădulescu, O. Munteanu, M.I. Rădulescu, M.M. Cîrstoiu

Rezumat: The number of teen pregnancies is constantly increasing worldwide due to social changes and sexual freedom. It is known in the literature that this group of patients associates an increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal development compared with other age groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate maternal and neonatal complications associated with pregnancy and birth in teenage mothers. All mothers up to 18 years of age, who gave birth between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2012 Bucharest Emergency University Hospital were included in this study. Data collected included information on maternal age, marital status, mode of delivery, maternal health (including pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes and anemia), risk factors (placenta praevia, smoking, alcohol and drugs) and transmissible infections and neonatal status (including birth weight, gestational age, sex, health status and birth defects). We defined the duration of pregnancy prematurity as less than 37 weeks, LBW <2.500 g, VLBW as <1.500 g, IUGR was diagnosed using ultrasound biometry, maternal anemia as a hemoglobin level <12 g/dL and hematocrit <37. All neonates were examined thoroughly to rule out major and minor congenital malformations. Results Twelve percent (12%) of the mothers had developed complications during caesarean operation sixtytwo percent (62.45%) of them associated postpartum complications of whom 14.1% associated postpartum hemorrhage, 21% had inadequate lactation, 6.3% developed abdominal wound infection, 10.35% had headaches after spinal anesthesia, 10.7% had urinary tract infections. Premature birth rate was 8.21% (28/280), 94% of babies were born alive, of whom 15% required resuscitation, 10% were born dead and 5% stopped growing. One minute APGAR score at 1 min ranged from 5-7 in 15% of cases, was 8-9 in 75% and 3% had a score of <5. The APGAR score at five minutes ranged from 8-9 in 67% of cases. Teenage pregnancy is considered to be high risk due to complications resulting from a combination of physiological, anatomical and socio-economic factors. Educating teenage mothers on the importance of pre- and postnatal care can reduce perinatal poor outcomes for both mother and child.
Cuvinte cheie: pregnancy in teenagers, APGAR score, IUGR, single parent.