Comparison of frequency of obstetrical and neonatal outcomes in teenage versus adult pregnancy.

Abstract

Objective: To determine and compare the frequency of maternal anemia, lower segment caesarian section and low birth weight in teenage and adult pregnancy. Study Design: Analytical Cohort study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: June 2024 to December 2024. Methods: After approval from ethical review committee, a total of 124 pregnant females up to the age of 35 years and fulfilling selection criteria were selected from outdoor department, labor room and operation theatre of Allied hospital Faisalabad. Based on the age of the pregnant females they were included in one of the two equal numbered groups having 62 participants in each i.e. “exposed teenagers group” if aged ≤19 years and “unexposed adults group” if aged 20-35 years. Informed consent and demographic information was obtained. Participants were screened for anemia defined as hemoglobin levels of <11g/dl and were assessed for mode of delivery i.e. caesarian section or normal vaginal delivery. All the neonates of the participants were weighed upon birth to screen for low birth weight defined as birth weight of ≤2500g. All the data was entered in the study pro forma and was analyzed using SPSS version-25. P value of ≤ 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Data analysis showed that the frequencies of maternal anemia, lower segment caesarian section and low birth weight in exposed group were 51.6% (n=32), 69.4% (n=43) and 61.3% (n=38) respectively, while in the unexposed group the respective frequencies were 14.5% (n=9), 40.3% (n=25) and 24.2% (n=15). Comparison showed that the frequencies of maternal anemia, lower segment caesarian section and low birth weight were significantly high in exposed group as compared to those of in unexposed group as the calculated P values for these outcomes were 0.000, 0.001 and 0.000 respectively. Conclusion: There is a strong association of adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcome with teenage pregnancies when compared with adult age pregnancy.