Trends in Teenage Pregnancy Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study From a Greek...

Teenage pregnancy, which occurs between the ages of 10 and 19, is a cause for concern in the health and social sectors. The present study investigates trends in teenage pregnancy in a university hospital in Greece over a 10-year period, subsequent to the changes in the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and mode of delivery before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A retrospective observational study was conducted based on the recorded data of deliveries from the Obstetrics Department of Attikon University Hospital for the decade 2015-2024. Trends in teenage pregnancies were analyzed across three time periods: before the pandemic (2015-2019), during the pandemic (2020-2022), and after the pandemic (2023-2024). The mode of delivery was also examined.

Teenage pregnancies accounted for 537 (7.3%) out of 7,340 total births. During and after the pandemic, while total births decreased, the proportion of teenage pregnancies increased, reaching 57 (16.4%) in 2024, although the absolute number remained stable. In 2024, 36 (63.1%) adolescent births were via cesarean section, compared to 30 (37%) before the pandemic.

The findings highlight the potential long-term social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent reproductive health, as well as changes in delivery mode. There is a need to implement specific reproductive health interventions to ensure access to antenatal care and family planning.