Adolescent pregnancy: positive perinatal outcome at a community hospital.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the association between early maternal age and pregnancy outcome at a community hospital. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 188 nulliparous patients was divided into three study groups of adolescent patients and a control group based on maternal age at the time of delivery. RESULTS: Younger adolescents had an excellent prenatal visit record. Overall complication rates were low and similar among groups. The cesarean section rates were not higher for younger adolescents in comparison to the control group. Duration of second stage of labor was shorter in adolescents than in the older patients (34.3 +/- 39.5 vs 59.5 +/- 39.9 min; t = 3.24; p = 0.002). There were no differences in mean gestational ages at delivery. The mean birth weights were lower in all adolescent groups compared to the control (ANOVA: F = 3.729; p = 0.0124). There were few NICU admissions in adolescent groups. CONCLUSION: Early maternal age (13 to 19 years) was associated with shorter duration of second stage labor and lower birth weight in a cohort of patients delivering at a community hospital.