Obstetric and Perinatal outcomes of pregnancy among teenagers in the Cape Coast Metropolis

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy is a social problem worldwide. Literature has reported that teenage pregnancy has adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study sought to assess the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of pregnancy among teenagers in the Cape Coast Metropolis.This retrospective case control study was conducted among 1,006 respondents made up of 505 teenagers (case) and 501 adults (control). Secondary data were collated from the obstetric registers, client folders and labour ward report books of three hospitals in the Cape Coast Metropolis.The researcher used frequencies, percentages, graphs, Chi-square tests and odds ratios in the SPSS to analyse the data. It was found that the mean age of the teenage mothers was 16. 9 years whiles that of the adults was 26.9 years. The rate of antenatal attendance was high among the teenagers than the adult. The teenagers had a lower risk of caesarean section delivery and a higher rate of spontaneous vaginal delivery as compared with the adult (P< 0.001). The rate of low birth weight babies born to the young mothers was significantly higher than that of babies born to the adult mothers (P<0.002). It was observed that a statistically significant difference existed between the APGAR score at the 1st minute (4-7) and (>7) (P<0.001) between the two groups. It was also revealed that teenagers were more likely to have live births deliveries compared to the adults (P<0.007). The study concluded that Teenage pregnant mothers in the Cape Coast Metropolis seem to have less risk pregnancy outcomes. This is probably due to improved obstetric and perinatal care. It was recommended that intervention programmes targeted at teenagers should be pursued in order to eliminate the risks of obstetric and perinatal complications among teenagers.