Introduction: Pregnancy at a young age is considered high-risk, and the prevalence of teenage pregnancy has been reported to be on the rise. The present study aimed to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes in primigravid adolescents.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran during July 2012-2013. Sample population consisted of primigravid women aged 12-19 and 20-35 years at delivery. In total, 100 primigravid adolescents and 200 primigravid adults aged 20-35 years were enrolled in the study. A researcher-made questionnaire including the demographic characteristics, gestational age, and other variables (medical history, medical condition of the subjects at the current pregnancy, and neonatal status) was completed by the researcher for the subjects. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 14 using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test, and P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Mean gestational age in the adolescents and adults was 38.35±3.15 and 37.2±3.08 weeks, respectively (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of the pregnancy outcomes (P>0.05), and only preeclampsia was significantly more prevalent in the adults compared to the adolescents (P<0.05). Neonatal outcomes (birth weight and Apgar scores) were significantly better in the adolescent mothers compared to the adults (P<0.05), while no significant differences were observed in terms of congenital anomalies, intrauterine death, and neonatal mortality (P>0.05). In addition, no significant differences were observed between the groups regarding intended/unwanted pregnancies and smoking habits (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Considering the favorable perinatal outcomes of teenage pregnancies, recommendations for early pregnancy may be rational, even in adolescent mothers.