National Journal of Community Medicine (Dec 2014)
A Cross Sectional Study to Assess Socio Economic Complications of Adolescent Pregnancy in A Metropolitan City of Central India
Abstract
Background: Teenage pregnancy is not new to this century which is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20 (when the pregnancy ends). Half of all the teenage births occur in just 7 countries, namely Bangladesh, Brazil, Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, India and USA. Present study assessed the prevalence of adolescent pregnancies and correlate with their social background, also to study the possible socio-economic problems specific to pregnant adolescents. Methods: The cross sectional study is conducted at Hukumchand hospital, District hospital and MGM medical college from 1st October 2011 to 1st September 2012. The delivered mothers were visited daily and detailed history was taken in a pre-designed, semi-open pro-forma. Study Group include Adolescent mothers (Study group) 14-20 years & Mothers 20-28 years (Control group). Result: 12.05% of the total deliveries were teenage pregnancy. 31.74% were adolescent deliveries out of the total primi-gravida. 77 (43.75%) adolescent mothers were found in the age group of 17-19 years. In non-adolescent mothers 68 (38.64%) beneficiaries were in 21-23 years. Mean age of delivery in adolescent age was 18.45 years as compared to 22.28 years in control group. Only 41 (11.65%) beneficiaries were graduates and above. Most beneficiaries were in the Socio Economic Status Class III and IV. 101 (57.39%) adolescent mothers had alcoholic/addict fathers as compared to 54 (30.68%) in non-adolescent mothers. Conclusion: Most of adolescent mothers had low education, rural background and belonged to low socioeconomic status with history of both pre and post marital sex discrimination.
