Teenage pregnancy: are teenagers a high risk group?

Abstract

Objectives: To study health profile of pregnant teenagers and their pattern of utilization of primary health care services in comparison with pregnant women aged 20-35 years in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Study design: A cohort of 1938 Saudi pregnant women (214 teenagers less than 20 years and 1724 aged 20-35 years) was selected by stratified random sampling technique. They were screened for anemia and hypertension using WHO criteria and followed until delivery to observe the method of delivery.

Results: The prevalence of anemia (9.6% and 12.0%, respectively) and hypertension (1.1% and 3.5%, respectively) was not significantly different among primigravida of both age groups. The same trend was observed among multigravida. Follow-up showed that the rate of abnormal deliveries among primigravida of both groups was not significantly different, and even lower among multigravida teenagers. Pregnant women in both groups had similar average prenatal visits (6.6 +/- 1.1 and 6.7 +/- 1.2 respectively, P < 0.05) and the majority contacted the primary health care center early in pregnancy (87.4% and 88.9%, respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results indicate that pregnant teenagers are not a high risk group if good prenatal care is provided.

PIP: Teenage pregnancy has been shown to be associated with an increase in obstetric complications. In particular, gestation associated hypertension and anemia were found more frequently among these young women. The authors screened 1938 pregnant Saudi women for anemia and hypertension using WHO criteria and followed them until delivery to observe the method of delivery in the study of whether or not pregnant women younger than 20 years old are at greater risk of obstetric complications than pregnant women aged 20-35 years. The women were selected by stratified random sampling technique from Abha, Saudi Arabia. 214 were younger than 20 years old, while the rest were aged 20-35. Among primigravida pregnant women younger than 20 years old, 9.6% were anemic and 1.1% suffered hypertension. Among primigravida pregnant women aged 20-35 years old, 12.0% were anemic and 3.5% suffered hypertension. These differences in rates between age groups are not significant. The same trend was observed for multigravida women. Furthermore, the rate of abnormal deliveries among primigravida of both groups was not significantly different, and even lower among multigravida teens. Pregnant women in both age groups made, on average, 6.6-6.8 prenatal visits, while 87.4% and 88.9%, respectively, contacted the primary health care center early in pregnancy. It may be concluded from these findings that pregnant teens do not constitute a high-risk group if good prenatal care is provided.