Prevalence and determinants of foetal outcome among teenagers delivered in a tertiary health facility in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy associated with foeto-maternal complications arising from biological and socioeconomic factors. The foetal outcome may be affected by factors yet to be studied in our environment.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of 101 teenage pregnancies admitted for delivery into the maternity unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo over a 5-year period.
Results: The number of deliveries per year range between 320 and 2052, with teenage birth between 3 and 40 per year giving a teenage delivery rate of 0.9 to 1.9%, with a mean prevalence of 1.34%. Their ages range between 13 and 19years, with the majority, 90(89%) of them being between 16 and 19 years old; and a median age of 18 years. Eighty-five (84.2%) of them were primiparous. The majority (56.4%) of the pregnancies was booked and the Caesarean section rate among the teenagers was 41.6%. Having the pregnancy booked and receiving antenatal care (Df=1, P value=0.002+), Apgar score at 1 minute (X2=-5.558, P value> 0.0001+) and placental size above 500g (X2 =5.2017, P value=0.023+) were associated with babies being born alive.
Conclusions: The teenagers delivered during the study period were mostly in their late teen ages, booked/received antenatal care and had surgical intervention for delivery of mostly live fetuses of normal weight related to placental weight and Apgar score at one minute.