Teenage Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency of teenage pregnancy and its complications as compared to controls.

METHODS: A retrospective case record analysis of 2522 pregnancies, aged below 25 years was carried out, in the Department of Obstetrics, Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital during the period 1 January 1999 to 31st December 1999.

RESULTS: The incidence of teenage pregnancy for 1999 was 6%. Three hundred and eighty five (76%) were carrying their first pregnancy while 42 (8%) mothers had 2 or more previous pregnancies and deliveries. The birth weight was less than 2.5 kg in 109 (21.5%) adolescents, as compared to 187 (9%) of the controls. The rate of instrumental deliveries and cesarean section in adolescents was 9% and 6% as compared to 5% and 10% in the controls. Seventy nine (16%) of adolescents delivered prematurely as compared to 216 (11%) of the controls. Forty seven (9%) of adolescents were unbooked compared to 133 (7%) who were controlled. The incidence of pre-eclampsia and preterm delivery in adolescents was 2% and 16% as compared to 1% and 11% in the controls.

CONCLUSION: Teenage pregnancy, which showed a steady decline from 18% in 1979 to 6% in 1999 was associated with a significantly higher risk of preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, low birth weight and instrumental delivery.