Teenage Pregnancy and Fetomaternal Outcomes in Tertiary Maternity Hospital of Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a global public health concern that causes adverse effects on the mother and fetus. In Nepal, the teenage pregnancy burden is high. Several studies have reported that teenage pregnancy and delivery are associated with adverse neonatal outcomes whereas some studies have reported contradictory findings.  Thus this study aimed to assess maternal and fetal outcomes of teenage pregnancy in Nepal.

Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional study, we assessed 577 pregnant women aged 13-19 years and 577 adult pregnant women at Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Singleton pregnant women between the ages of 14 and 19 were assigned to Group A  and Singleton pregnant women over the age of 19 were assigned to Group B. Maternal outcomes examined hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, anemia, genital tract injuries during vaginal delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage (excessive bleeding after childbirth). Fetal outcomes included low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth, low Apgar score at 5 minutes, neonatal death, and stillbirth. The chi-square test was employed to ascertain the association between teenage pregnancy and maternal and fetal complications.

Results: A total of 9360 deliveries were performed during the study period  out of this 577(6.2%) were teenage pregnancies. For the study group, the mean age was 18.3 ± 0.9 years compared with 20.1 ± 2.3 years for the older group. Thirteen percent of participants from Group A and 1% from Group B had maternal complications. Around 16% of women have fetal complications, and 20% of these complications were among Group A. 

Conclusions: Teenage pregnancies showed higher rates of maternal and fetal complications compared to adult pregnancies. These complications include genital tract injuries, postpartum hemorrhage, and giving birth to low birth weight babies.