title: Obstetric problems in the adolescent Zambian mother studied at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka.
abstract: The Obstetric performance of teenage primigravida aged 12-15 years was studied retrospectively and analysed in the local population attending the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka. The leading Obstetric complications were cephalo-pelvic disproportion (3.6%) and acute toxeamia (2.2%). The caesarean section rate (7.5%) and operative vaginal delivery rate (11%) were both high. There was one maternal death due to Obstetric shock. The rates for prematurity (154/1,000), still births (30.8/1000), and neonatal death (101.9/1,000) were increased. Perinatal mortality rate was 123/1,000. The incidence of pregnancy between 12-15 years was 1.2%. Overall incidence of teenage pregnancy (12-19 years) was 22.5% and parity of 5 was observed at the age of 18 and 19. The study concluded that early teenage pregnancy carried obstetrical risks and was associated with a high perinatal loss.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002648:Child; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010298:Parity; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D015024:Zambia