Labor and delivery outcomes among young adolescents

We sought to determine whether young adolescents aged 11-14 years and teens aged 15-17 and 18-19 years have an increased risk of cesarean or operative delivery, as well as maternal or neonatal delivery-related morbidity, compared to young adults aged 20-24 years.

We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using Washington State birth certificate data linked to hospital records from 1987 through 2009 for 26,091 nulliparas with singleton gestations between 24-43 weeks. We compared young adolescents aged 11-14 years, young teens aged 15-17 years, and older teens aged 18-19 years to young adults aged 20-24 years. The primary outcome was method of delivery. Secondary outcomes included postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations, chorioamnionitis, prolonged maternal length of stay, gestational age at delivery, birthweight, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal length of stay, and death. We used multivariate regression to assess associations between age and delivery outcomes.

Young adolescents aged 11-14 years had a lower risk of cesarean (risk ratio [RR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.83) and operative vaginal (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.97) delivery compared to young adults aged 20-24 years. Compared to young adults, young adolescents had an increased risk of prolonged length of stay for both vaginal and cesarean delivery (RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.20-1.49, and RR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.38-2.12, respectively), with no significant differences in indication for cesarean delivery or other measures of maternal morbidity. Young adolescents had an increased risk of preterm delivery (RR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.79-2.48), low and very low birthweight (RR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.73-2.50, and RR, 3.25; 95% CI, 2.22-4.77, respectively), and infant death (RR, 3.90; 95% CI, 2.36-6.44) compared to young adults.

Young adolescents have a decreased risk of cesarean and operative vaginal delivery compared to young adults; however, their neonates face higher risks of preterm delivery, low and very low birthweight, and death. This information can be used to inform clinical care for this population.