Comparison of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Teenage versus Adult Pregnancies at Buddhachinaraj Hospital

Objective: To compare outcomes of teenage pregnancy (maternal age younger than 20 years) with adult pregnancy (maternal age 20-34 years). Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study compared first birth teenage deliveries to adult deliveries at Buddhachinaraj Hospital from January 2012 to December 2013. Main Outcome Measurement: Maternal outcomes were anemia, hypertensive disorder, gestational diabetes mellitus, mode of delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage. Neonatal outcomes included preterm delivery, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction and birth asphyxia. Results: The prevalence of teenage pregnancy in this study was 17%. Teenage mothers had less frequent antenatal care. Rates of anemia, preterm delivery and low birth weight were significantly higher in teenage compared to adult pregnancy, whereas the rates of gestational diabetes mellitus and postpartum hemorrhage were lower. Rate of normal vaginal delivery was significantly higher in the teenage group compared to the adult pregnancies. No difference in outcome between groups was demonstrated for hypertensive disorder, infectious disorder, fetal growth restriction and birth asphyxia. Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy had preferable obstetric outcomes for the prevalence of vaginal delivery and postpartum hemorrhage, but had increased neonatal adverse events.