The obstetric factors and outcome of adolescent pregnancy having IUGR babies

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent childbearing is still a common social and health concern in Bangladesh. Adolescent maternity is causally associated with many poor obstetric complications. Low birth weight is one of the most common problems in adolescent pregnancy and majority of these LBW babies is due to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The aim of the study was to evaluate the obstetric factors and outcomes of adolescent pregnancy having IUGR babies.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive type of study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital from the period of January 2012 to June 2012. In this present study, 150 adolescent mothers selected. Sample technique was purposive sampling. Detailed medical, obstetric and neonatal information recorded on a designed data sheet. Data were analyzed using statistical program SPSS.Results: The mean age of all adolescent mothers was 18.14±0.85, while mean age at marriage found 16.24. All the adolescent respondents were married and 9 out of 10 were living with husband (91%). Higher proportion (70%) of Hindu respondents delivered IUGR babies. 60% pregnancies were unplanned, of them, 36% developed IUGR. High proportion of maternal and neonatal complications found among the mothers having IUGR babies. More common maternal complication were severe anemia (65%), fetal distress (56.2%), oligohydramnios (43.8%), pre-¬eclampsia (35.4%), eclampsia (33.3%), PPH (23%), puerperal sepsis (14.6%) and more common neonatal complications were birth asphyxia (96%), hypoglycemia (83%), hyperbilirubinemia (8.3%) and sepsis (8.3%).Conclusions: Adolescent pregnancy complicated with IUGR demonstrated higher proportion of maternal complications like severe anemia, pre-¬eclampsia, eclampsia, oligohydramnios, PPH, and adverse perinatal outcome.