Publication:

Obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancies in a tertiary care centre in Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Background Teenage pregnancy is a social problem affecting maternal and child health. In India, teenage pregnancy is an important public-health problem, although the national policy of the Government of India advocates the minimum legal age of marriage for girls to be 18 years. The aim of the present study was to observe the obstetric outcome in Teenage pregnanciesMethods: A retrospective analysis of all Teenage pregnancies was done over a period of 1 year from August 2014 to July 2015. Case sheets of all teenage mothers delivered during that period were retrieved. Maternal and neonatal outcome were analyzed and compared with pregnant women ≥20 years of age.

Results 5859 deliveries occurred during the study period, teenage deliveries were 457.The prevalence of teenage deliveries was 7.8%. Cesarean delivery rate was 56% vs 42% (p value 0.05). Teenage mothers had increased Low birth weight rates 24% vs 10% (p<0.05).

Conclusions Teenage pregnancies has a negative impact on maternal and perinatal health. Hence strict laws should be enforced to prohibit teenage marriages. Adolescent girls should be educated about safe sex practices, contraception and complications of teenage pregnancies on maternal and child health.