Some aspects of obstetrics in black teenage pregnancy: a comparative analysis

This article is based on an investigation into some aspects of obstetrics in black teenage pregnancy conducted by the authors at two hospitals in Port Elizabeth during the latter part of 1992. In that research, it was hypothesized that significant differences with regard to several obstetrical factors would be found between the teenagers and older controls. Three groups of primigravidae who had single births were compared and the data statistically analysed. There were 47 teenagers aged 13 to 16 years, 128 aged 17 to 19 years and 125 older females aged 20 to 30 years. A significantly higher incidence of anaemia and low birth mass neonates among the teenagers than among the controls was found. A significant association was also found between low antenatal clinic attendance (four or fewer visits) and low birth mass infants. No significant differences were found in regard to other obstetric variables, including incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and syphilis in particular.