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Young maternal age and preterm birth.

Antônio A M da Silva1, Vanda M F Simões, Marco A Barbieri

  • 1Department of Public Health, University of Maranhão, and Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. aasilva@elo.com.br

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|November 25, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Young maternal age, especially under 18, is linked to a higher risk of preterm birth (PTB). This association persists even after accounting for social factors, suggesting potential biological or artifactual explanations for PTB in adolescent mothers.

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Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The relationship between young maternal age and preterm birth (PTB) is debated, with some studies attributing it to socioeconomic factors and others to biological influences.
  • Teenage pregnancy is prevalent in many developing countries, necessitating research into associated risks like PTB.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between young maternal age and PTB in a Brazilian city with a high teenage pregnancy rate.
  • To determine if the association between young maternal age and PTB persists after controlling for confounding variables.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic sample of 2541 hospital births in São Luís, Brazil, was analyzed.
  • Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of PTB for mothers <18 and 18-19 years, adjusting for socioeconomic and reproductive factors.

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  • Stratified analysis by parity was performed to further explore the association.

    • Main Results:

    • Unadjusted analysis showed a higher PTB risk for mothers <18 years (OR = 2.42).
    • After adjustment for confounders, the PTB risk for mothers <18 years remained significant (OR = 1.70).
    • The PTB risk was significant for very young primiparae (<18 years) but not for non-primiparous adolescents.

    Conclusions:

    • The association between very young maternal age (<18 years) and PTB may be influenced by biological factors, artifactual explanations like gestational age estimation errors, or residual confounding.
    • Parity appears to be an important factor, with primiparity in very young mothers significantly associated with PTB.