Factors influencing adolescent birth outcome

In spite of a growing concern about adolescent pregnancy, factors that influence its birth outcome have remained inadequately defined. Data on sociodemographic variables, maternal health habits, medical and obstetric complications, and neonatal outcome measures were collected between October 1993 and May 1994. A total of 212 (110 adolescent and 102 non-adolescent) mothers and their newborns were included in the study. The data were analyzed using the EPI Info and the Statistical Analysis System softwares. Adolescent pregnancy was found to be associated with significantly higher rates of premature and low birth weight infants (p < .001). Newborns of adolescent mothers were also lower in other anthropometric parameters-length less than 45 cm (p < 0.001) and head circumference less than 32 cm (p < 0.003)- and had lower Apgar scores (< 7) at 1 and 5 minutes (p < 0.001). Gestational age was strongly and independently associated with birth weight. Low parity, lack of antenatal care, and young maternal age also had positive contributions to birth weight in descending order of strength. The findings of the present study suggest that factors other than young maternal age are strongly associated with poor adolescent birth outcome.