Teenage pregnancy: a reconsideration

Teenage pregnancies may be diminishing, but the same cannot be said about the risks for abnormal pregnancy and pregnancy outcome in this group. This study sought to examine rates (by mother's age at time of birth) for a number of variables indicative of pregnancy and birth problems. Specifically, the charts of 1,681 babies, born at a regional mid-northern Ontario Labour and Delivery Unit between 1987 and 1988, were examined. Results suggest that this group of teenaged mothers continue to demonstrate a higher rate of substance, tobacco and dietary abuse during pregnancy than older aged mothers. Further, more babies born to these particular teenaged mothers received low APGAR scores, 5 minutes after birth, than babies born to other aged mothers. The same group (teenaged mothers) gave birth to pre-term babies more often, and had a higher rate of congenital abnormality than did other aged mothers.