Adolescent Childbirth: Epidemiological and Clinic Aspects, Maternal and Perinatal Prognosis in Tengandogo Teaching Hospital, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background/Aim: Adolescent pregnancy is considered as a public health issue. This study aims at describing the epidemiological and clinical aspects, as well as the maternal and perinatal prognosis of adolescent childbirth. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical study. Data were collected prospectively. The study population included all women admitted for delivery. Adolescents were sampled exhaustively. In order to identify factors associated with adolescent childbirth, we selected a control group of women aged between 20 and 39. Results: Adolescent deliveries accounted for 12.6% of all deliveries. The average age was estimated at 18.2 years. Patients aged 19 accounted for 55.1% of cases. Upon admission, 88.9% of adolescent girls were nulliparous. Adolescents were referred in 93.5% of cases. As for admission reasons, abdominopelvic pain with uterine contractions accounted for 39.81% of cases. In 21.3% of cases the gestational age as below 37 weeks of amenorrhea. Fetal breech presentation was observed in 8.3% of cases. Caesarean section was the mode of delivery in 60.2%. In our series, two adolescent girls presented a hemorrhage of deliverance. One case of maternal death was recorded. The prematurity birth rate was estimated at 20.4% and neonatal resuscitation concerned 24.9% of newborns. The perinatal mortality rate is estimated at 11.2% corresponding 112 deaths per thousand births. Conclusion: Adolescent childbirth, compared to that of adult women is still associated with a poor prognosis. There is the need to enhance appropriate measures in education, contraception, prenatal care and the fight against early marriage need to reduce the rates of early pregnancy and obstetric complications in this high-risk population.