Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Adolescent Pregnancies

Objectives: Adolescent period and pregnancies during this period is a controversial issue with many aspects and should be addressed both socially and medically. Although this situation is more common in Turkey, it is an important health problem worldwide. Adolescent pregnancies are high-risk maternal and fetal pregnancies. Our study aimed to evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes in adolescent pregnancies.
Methods: In this study, the records of 2088 adolescent pregnant women aged 18 years and younger who gave birth in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Zeynep Kamil Women's and Children's Hospital between 1996 and 1997, and the records of adult pregnant women aged 19 years and older who were examined as a control group were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, presentation, indications for hospitalization, mode of delivery, obstetric outcomes, and obstetric complications of adolescent and adult patients who gave birth in our hospital were compared.
Results: It was found that 2088 adolescent pregnant women included in the study had a singleton delivery. Compared with the control group, it was found that the threat of preterm delivery was higher, birth weight was lower, and the cesarean section rate was higher.
Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancies were found to be at risk for preterm delivery, IUGR, fetal distress, low APGAR score, and low birth weight, and antenatal follow-up was less frequent in adolescent pregnancies. Healthcare workers should be careful about the prevention and risks of adolescent pregnancies and frequent antenatal follow-up if detected.