Einstein (São Paulo) (Mar 2005)
Pregnancy in teenagers under 16 years old: perinatal adversities
Abstract
Objectives: To verify the prevalence of pregnancy among adolescentsunder 16 years of age, the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertensionand neonatal complications in the population attend at the HospitalGeral do Grajaú. Methods: Data related to every delivery performedat the Hospital Geral do Grajaú (HGG) from January 1st, 2000 to April30th, 2004 were collected. The sample was divided into two groupsof pregnant women: one consisting of adolescents aged under 16years, and the other comprising all other pregnant women attendedat the Institution. Maternal age, prevalence of pregnancy-inducedhypertension, number of prenatal visits, mode of delivery, gestationalage, birth weight and one-minute Apgar score were analyzed. Forstatistical analysis the t test was used considering p<0.05. Dataregarding pregnant teenagers were compared to those related tothe general patient population of the Obstetrics Clinic of the HGG.These data were obtained from the HGG’s Hospital RecordsDepartment. Results: Two hundred and thirty-one pregnantteenagers under 16 years of age were analyzed. This correspondsto 2.61% of the total obstetric population studied in this Institution.Among them, 53,2% did not attend prenatal care visits adequately,that is, they attended less than 5 visits. The prevalence of pregnancyinducedhypertension among these teenagers was 3.46%. Cesareansection was performed in 22% of the teenagers studied. There were12.1% of low-birth weight newborns and 23.8% preterm infants, ofwhom 6.4% had a one-minute Apgar score = 3, and 17.7% had anApgar score = 7. A statistically significant difference was observedregarding inadequate prenatal care, one-minute Apgar score = 3and prematurity, compared to the data from the total pregnantpopulation of the Institution. Conclusions: A higher risk of pregnancyinducedhypertension among pregnant adolescents aged under 16years compared to the general population of patients of theInstitution was not observed. However, the age range studied provedto be a risk factor for neonatal morbidity.
