COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY IN ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT MOTHERS IN A MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN TEHRAN

Abstract

This one year retrospective study was conducted in Mirza Kuchak Khan Maternity Hospital, Tehran, 1989-1990, to compare complications of pregnancy in adolescent (below 20 years old ) and young adult (20-24 years old) mothers. The results were as follows: 14.4% of all the deliveries during the period of study were adolescent mothers. The proportions of the following complications were higher in the adolescent group than in the adult group: prematurity(8 times) cephalo-pelvic disproportion (CPD) (2.5 times) , preeclampsia , eclampsia , bleeding and breech presentation. The proportion of late fetal deaths was higher in adolescent mothers (15.7 0/00) than in adult mothers (7.7 0/00). In addition, the proportion of neonatal deaths in adolescent mothers was also higher. There was a statistically significant correlation between age of mothers and neonatal weight.