Maternal and perinatal outcome in adolescent and adult primigravida

Abstract

Background: Improving maternal and child health is prioritized globally; however, adolescent pregnancies remain the prime one among the many obstacles. The study aimed to determine the maternal and perinatal outcomes in adolescent and adult primigravida. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out between 1st December 2018 to 30th November 2019, over a sample of 487 pregnant women (primigravida), presenting at the Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi, for childbirth/delivery. The patients were categorized as adolescents (aged ≤19 years) and labelled as group A and adults (aged 20-34 years) labelled as group B, comprising 83 and 404 patients. Data were recorded using a structured questionnaire containing details pertaining to socio-demographic characteristics, labour, delivery and immediate postpartum period complications of pregnancy. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: A total of 1738 deliveries were completed in the study duration at Jinnah Medical College Hospital, Karachi. The mean age of the women was 18.35 ± 0.06 years, and the modal age was 27 years. The mean gestational age of the women was 36.86 ± 2.15 weeks among teens and 38.55 ± 0.55 weeks among adults. The incidence of adverse outcomes was higher among maternal [anemia; 46.9% (p-value 0.05)] and perinatal [preterm delivery (20%), low birth weight (22%), stillbirth (11.5%) and perinatal mortality (10%); p<0.05] was higher among teens. Conclusion: It is concluded that teenage pregnancies are comparatively riskier than adult pregnancies for the child and the mother, as is apparent from the significant