Pregnancy Outcomes in Adolescent Pregnancies; Risks and Solution Suggestions; A Retrospective Analysis of the Region with the Highest Crude Birth Rate in Turkey

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancies in the adolescent age group have shown an increasing trend in Türkiye, particularly with the rising issue of migration, constituting a significant public health concern. Factors such as lack of knowledge, social st igma, and financial constraints lead to delayed initiation of antenatal care and lack of follow-up. This study aims to examine the outcomes of adolescent pregnancies. Methods:The pregnancy outcomes of 74 adolescents who presented to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a rural district state hospital for delivery between 2020 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:In this study, gravida, parity numbers, comorbidities, and maternal and neonatal outcomes of adolescents under 18 were examined. The mean age was 17.4 ± 1 years, the mean gravida was 1.3 ± 0.6, parity was 0.3 ± 0.6, and the mean number of abortions was 0.01 ± 0.1. Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery was observed in 67 participants (90.5%), with episiotomy performed in 54 (73. 0%) of these cases. The mean gestational age was 38.5 ± 1.5 weeks, with a mean fetal weight of 3008 ± 481 g and a mean fetal length of 4 9.7 ± 3.2 cm. The mean 1-minute Apgar score was 7.8 ± 1.3, and the 5-minute score was 8.9 ± 1.1. Only one delivery occurred at 29 weeks of gestation, with all others classified as term deliveries. Discussion and Conclusion:To prevent adolescent pregnancies, which constitute a societal issue, comprehensiv e education programs should be provided to both adolescents and their families. Adequate medical support must also be ensured for adolescent mothers. © Content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.