[Pregnancies among underage girls in Guadeloupe: a new inventory]

Abstract

Objectives: In Guadeloupe (French West Indies), fecondity rate of teenagers is higher than in mainland France. The aim of our study was to analyze sociodemographic characteristics and perinatal indicators among underage girls and to compare them to those of a previous study also conducted in our maternity unit in 1993 and 1994.

Materials and methods: The sociodemographic, medical, obstetrical and neonatal data of 163 underage pregnant girls delivered from 2009 to 2010 at the University hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre/Abymes were collected retrospectively and compared with the previous study.

Results: In 16 years, in contrast to perinatal indicators, which did not significantly evolve, the sociodemographic characteristics of this population have changed. In addition, the increase of neonatal morbidity seems to be related to late initiation of obstetrical care, which also still remains insufficient.

Conclusion: Our results are close to those described in the other French regions and have hardly evolved since our previous study. The differences found for the obstetric and perinatal risks seem to be related to sociodemographic factors surrounding these underage pregnancies. Those factors should be taken into consideration in any approach aiming to reduce incidence and prevent complications of pregnancies among teenagers.