Differing risk factors for premature birth in adolescent mothers and adult mothers

Although the survival rate of premature infants has improved, the prevalence of premature birth has not changed or has even increased. The purpose of this study is to analyze the demographic, psychosocial support, family planning, and health behavior risk factors for premature birth.

This county-based, cross-sectional study collected information on 1,146 first-time mothers, including 556 adolescents (< 20 years old) and 590 adults (20-34 years old). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to study risk factors associated with premature birth.

The prevalence of premature birth was 11.4% for adolescent mothers and 8.4% for adult mothers. Younger adolescent mothers (< 18 years old) (14.5%), fewer than 10 prenatal visits (12.5% vs. 6.7%), hypertension (33.3% vs. 8.9%), weight gain less than 10 kg (14.6% vs. 8.8%), drinking alcohol (23.1% vs. 9.5%), unintended pregnancy (13.6% vs. 7.4%), no parental support (16.8% vs. 9.1%), and victim of domestic violence (16.0% vs. 9.3%) were associated with a higher risk of premature birth (p < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis stratified by mother's age, prenatal visits less than 10 times (OR 2.68; 95% CI [1.38, 5.21]) and drinking alcohol (OR 25.0; 95% CI [1.35-460.49]) were significantly associated with premature birth for adult mothers but unintended pregnancy (OR 2.34; 95% CI [1.28, 4.27]) was the only significant factor for adolescent mothers.

Differing risk factors for premature birth were found between adolescent and adult mothers. Effective family planning before gestation, alcohol abstinence, and regular prenatal visits for screening psychosocial, medical, and obstetric conditions during pregnancy are mandatory for the prevention of premature birth.