Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 44, Issue 3 , Pages 258-263, September 2005

Teenage Maternity: A Study from Seven City Hospitals in Taipei

  • Chen-Li Lin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr. Chen-Li Lin, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei City Hospital, Women and Children's Center, 12 Fujhou Street, Jhongjheng District, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hui-Na Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chien-Dai Chiang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 21 March 2005; received in revised form 20 April 2005; accepted 26 April 2005.

Article Outline

Summary 

Objective

To assess adolescent pregnancy for demographic characteristics, obstetric morbidity, and birth outcome in Taipei City Hospitals.

Materials and Methods

Registry data for 9,630 singleton births at 20 weeks or more of gestation at seven city hospitals in Taipei between January 2002 and June 2003 were studied. Mothers were divided into three groups by age: under 20 (n = 133 births; 1.4%); 20-34 (n = 8,035; 83.4%), and over 34 (n = 1,462; 15.2%). The overall registration rate was about 95%. Data were analyzed by Chi-squared, logistic regression, and ANOVA tests.

Results

Education attainment in the teenage group was lower and the proportion who were single, had first parity, sought prenatal care after first trimester, and smoked were significantly higher. Obstetric complications were more common in this group in terms of antenatal anemia and precipitate labor, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 2.2 (1.2-4.0) and 3.0 (1.5-6.2), but not in the frequency of prolonged labor, postpartum hemorrhage, abruptio placenta, or hypertensive disorder. However, rates were higher for stillbirth (adjusted OR, 2.8; 1.0-8.2) and small for gestational age (crude OR, 1.9; 1.2-3.2), resulting in the lowest mean birth weight of infants. No significant differences were demonstrated in frequency of prematurity, Apgar score, congenital anomalies, intensive care unit admission, or neonatal death.

Conclusion

Teenage maternity is associated with general characteristics of social disadvantage and suboptimal outcome. We recommend education classes, focusing on the nutritional aspects of anemia correction, smoking cessation, and adequate preparation for birth. In addition, an integrated program is required, with social workers recruited to enhance family support.

Key Words:  adolescent , birth outcome , pregnancy , teenage

No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.

 

Back to Article Outline

References 

  1. The Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China, Taiwan and Fuchien Demographic Fact Book, Republic of China, 2003 . Taiwan, R.O.C.: The Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China; 2003;
  2. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision and World Urbanization Prospects: The 2001 Revision. As found at http://esa.un.org/unpp
  3. Lu TH , Sung FC , Li CY . Demographic characteristics and trends in the prevalence of low birth weight from singleton pregnancies in Taiwan . J Formos Med Assoc . 2003;102:313–318
  4. Population Reference Bureau  . The World's Youth 2000 . Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau; 2001;
  5. Smith GCS , Pell JP . Teenage pregnancy and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes associated with first and second births: population based retrospective cohort study . BMJ . 2001;323:476–480
  6. Yoder BA , Young MK . Neonatal outcomes of teenage pregnancy in a military population . Obstet Gynecol . 1997;90:500–506
  7. Chandra PC , Schiavello HJ , Ravi B , Weinstein AG , Hook FB . Pregnancy outcomes in urban teenagers . Int J Gynecol Obstet . 2002;79:117–122
  8. Olausson PM , Cnattingius S , Goldenberg RL . Determinants of poor pregnancy outcomes among teenagers in Sweden . Obstet Genecol . 1997;89:451–457
  9. Elfenbein DS , Felice ME . Adolescent pregnancy . Pediatr Clin North Am . 2003;50:781–800
  10. Olausson PO , Cnattingius S , Haglund B . Does the increased risk of preterm delivery in teenagers persist in pregnancies after the teenage period? . Br J Obstet Gynaecol . 2001;108:721–725
  11. Wang RH , Wang HH , Hsu MT . Factors associated with adolescent pregnancy: a sample of Taiwanese female adolescents . Public Health Nurs . 2003;20:33–41
  12. Wang CS , Chou P . Characteristics and outcomes of adolescent pregnancies in Kaohsiung county, Taiwan . J Formos Med Assoc . 1999;6:415–421
  13. Li YT , Yin CS , Chan CC . Psychosocial risk factors of teenage pregnancy in eastern Taiwan . Chin Med J (Taipei) . 1999;62:425–430
  14. Department of OB/GYN, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital  . Birth Weight Standards in Taiwan, 1990 . Taipei: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; 1990;
  15. Lin CL, Wu HN, Chu JH, Chu CH. Preterm birth in Taipei City, 2001-2003. 14th Taiwan-Japan Symposium on Obstetric/ Gynecological Ultrasound and Perinatology, 2004.
  16. Tsai TS , Chen JY , Lee MC . Reproductive outcomes and infant health in adolescent pregnancy in Taichung City . Acta Paediatr Taiwan . 2001;42:151–157
  17. Samet JM , Yoon SY . Women and the Tobacco Epidemic: Challenges for the 21st Century . Geneva: World Health Organization; 2001;
  18. Chen PC , Li CY , Lin RS , Sung FC . Maternal smoking, environmental tobacco smoking and low birth weight . Taiwan J Public Health . 2002;21:321–328
  19. Bread JL . Iron requirements in adolescent females . J Nutr . 2000;130:440S–442S
  20. Li YM , Fu CC . Maternal age and adverse pregnancy outcomes: analysis of birth records from 1997 to 1999 in Hualien County . Tzu Chi Med J . 2001;13:95–103
  21. Births  . Final data for 2002 . Natl Vit Stat Rep . 2003;52:1–114 Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr52/nvsr52_10.pdf

PII: S1028-4559(09)60149-2

doi:10.1016/S1028-4559(09)60149-2

Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 44, Issue 3 , Pages 258-263, September 2005

Article Tools