Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcomes among teenagers in comparison with women of older age groups. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out, comparing pirimiparous pregnant teenager women aged 13-19 years, arranged in to two groups: low teens (< or = 16-years-old ) and high teens (17- 19-years-old), with pirimiparous women aged 20-29 years from January 2003 through January 2005 in Ali-ebne Abitaleb hospital of Zahedan, Iran. Frequency of prenatal care and perinatal outcome (newborn's weight and gestational age at delivery), mode of delivery and any maternal complications were recorded. RESULTS: Proportions of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and preterm birth were highest among the infants of mothers aged 19 years or less compared with women aged 20-29 years (P<0.001). Also IUGR and preterm births were highest among the infants of low teen mothers than high teen mothers (P<0.001). The incidence of caesarean section in low teens was higher than high teens (P=0.001), but caesarean was not higher among mothers aged 19 years or less compared with women aged 20-29 years. There was no significant difference in pre eclampsia and placental abruption between all three groups, while frequency of placenta previa was higher in teenage group than older gravidas (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: In this homogenous population, preterm delivery, IUGR and placenta previa were higher in teenagers than older gravidas despite of good prenatal care.