J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2010 May;17(1):94-101.

Obstetric and Neonatal Outcomes of the Teenage Pregnancy

• Shin JH
• Bauer S
• Yoon YS
• Jeong HC
• Rhie YJ
• Lee JH
• Woo CW
• Choi BM
• Kim HJ
• Park SH
• Song JW

Abstract

PURPOSE
In recent years, Korea has showed a steady increase in the frequency of teenage births, while the overall birth rate has declined. As the teenage birth is known as a high risk pregnancy itself, we examined perinatal complications of teenage mothers and whose neonates in aspects of medical problem, and social status and support.
METHODS
We examined the perinatal characteristics of teenage mothers and whose babies, who were hospitalized at Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2004 to July 2009 using medical records retrospectively. Twenty-seven teenage mothers and their 28 babies were enrolled in this study.
RESULTS
Teenage mothers were all unmarried and showed high rates of preterm labor, maternal anemia, and unexpected delivery. Among them, 11 (40.7%) were from families that were separated. Eleven mothers (40.7%) did not have any antenatal care. There were high rates of prematurity and low birth weight (60.7% and 64.3%, respectively). The complication included: respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus and necrotizing enterocolitis. Fourteen babies (51.9%) were not going to be brought up by their biological parents.
CONCLUSION
Teenage pregnancy had high rates of preterm labor and associated complications, often caused by the lack of proper antenatal care. Babies from unmarried mothers were likely to be adopted and this could be a social burden. Therefore, to reduce unplanned teenage pregnancy and births, sex education and social supports should be provided to all teenagers.

Keyword

Teenage pregnancy; Unplanned pregnancy; Antenatal care; Newborn; Perinatal complication

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Anemia
Birth Rate
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
Female
Humans
Illegitimacy
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Korea
Medical Records
Mothers
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Parents
Parturition
Pregnancy
Pregnancy in Adolescence
Pregnancy, High-Risk
Pregnancy, Unplanned
Retrospective Studies
Sex Education
Single Person