Are rural adolescents necessarily at risk of poorer obstetric and birth outcomes?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study were to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adolescent women giving birth at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, and compare these with those with all adolescents in New South Wales.


METHODS
An investigative approach.


METHODS
Obstetric complications, delivery intervention and adverse infant outcomes.


METHODS
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.


METHODS
One hundred and sixteen adolescents aged 15-19 years.


RESULTS
In relation to obstetric complications and infants with complications, the study sample was found to be representative of New South Wales adolescents. However, for type of delivery there was a higher rate of forceps delivery (12.3% (15) vs 4.7% (415) P = 0.0001), forceps rotation (4.1% (5) vs 0.9% (80) P = 0.004) and fewer normal vaginal deliveries (67.2% (82) vs 80.8% (7108) P = 0.006) at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that rural adolescents are at risk of delivery complications and are less likely to have a normal vaginal delivery. More research is required into obstetric and birth outcomes for the rural adolescent population.
Gaff-Smith
Mavis
M
Maternity Unit, Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, Wagga Wagga NSW, Australia. mavis.gaff-smith@bigpond.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors