<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0036_s_009_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c18b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The objective of the study was to determine the course and outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents compared to women aged 20–24 years in Slovenia.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0036_s_010_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c18b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>In the retrospective study, the course of pregnancy and labour and the perinatal outcome of newborns in primiparous adolescents aged ≤19 years (study group) have been compared to the control group of primiparous women aged 20–24 years. The study group was further divided into a study subgroup of adolescents aged ≤17 years. Data were retrieved from the National Perinatal Information System in Slovenia for the period 2008–2012. Altogether, 13,663 women and their newborns were included.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0036_s_011_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c18b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Adolescent pregnancy was associated with increased rates of unknown estimated date of delivery, preterm labour, low birth weight newborns, small for gestational age newborns and low gestational weight gain. Spontaneous labour was more common in adolescents, while emergency and elective Caesarean sections were less common than in women aged 20–24 years. In addition, pregnancy in adolescents aged ≤17 years was associated with increased rate of maternal anaemia and labour without complications. Higher rates of smoking, lower rates of parenting school attendance, lower rates of pregnancy check-ups and screening tests in pregnancy such as nuchal translucency in adolescents were found.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2017-0036_s_012_w2aab3b7c11b1b6b1aab1c18b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The results of the study show that adolescent pregnancy is related to higher health risks for pregnant adolescents and their newborns. In addition, adolescents are subject to poorer prenatal care comparing to older women.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionThe objective of the study was to determine the course and outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents compared to women aged 20–24 years in Slovenia.MethodsIn the retrospective study, the course of pregnancy and labour and the perinatal outcome of newborns in primiparous adolescents aged ≤19 years (study group) have been compared to the control group of primiparous women aged 20–24 years. The study group was further divided into a study subgroup of adolescents aged ≤17 years. Data were retrieved from the National Perinatal Information System in Slovenia for the period 2008–2012. Altogether, 13,663 women and their newborns were included.ResultsAdolescent pregnancy was associated with increased rates of unknown estimated date of delivery, preterm labour, low birth weight newborns, small for gestational age newborns and low gestational weight gain. Spontaneous labour was more common in adolescents, while emergency and elective Caesarean sections were less common than in women aged 20–24 years. In addition, pregnancy in adolescents aged ≤17 years was associated with increased rate of maternal anaemia and labour without complications. Higher rates of smoking, lower rates of parenting school attendance, lower rates of pregnancy check-ups and screening tests in pregnancy such as nuchal translucency in adolescents were found.ConclusionsThe results of the study show that adolescent pregnancy is related to higher health risks for pregnant adolescents and their newborns. In addition, adolescents are subject to poorer prenatal care comparing to older women.

The outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents in Slovenia

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

IZIDI NOSEČNOSTI IN PORODA PRI MLADOSTNICAH V SLOVENIJI

IntroductionThe objective of the study was to determine the course and outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents compared to women aged 20–24 years...

The outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents in Slovenia

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Oct 09, 2017

Page range: 268 - 275

Received: Feb 28, 2017

Accepted: Aug 17, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2017-0036

Keywords
teenagers, delivery, birth, labour, complications, newborn, birth weight, gestational weight gain

© 2017 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents in Slovenia

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Oct 09, 2017

Page range: 268 - 275

Received: Feb 28, 2017

Accepted: Aug 17, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2017-0036

Keywordsteenagers, delivery, birth, labour, complications, newborn, birth weight, gestational weight gain

© 2017 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
teenagers, delivery, birth, labour, complications, newborn, birth weight, gestational weight gain