title: Obstetric outcomes of adolescent pregnancies in Turkey.
abstract: Pregnancy in adolescence has been and continues to be a problem in public health. The purpose of this study was to investigate obstetric outcomes of adolescent pregnancies in Samsun, Turkey. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 1 and December 31, 2004, at 3 hospitals in Samsun, Turkey. Of the 10,100 women who gave birth during this period, 357 (3.5%) were 18 years of age or younger; these patients were included in the study. Participants with a history of any chronic disease were excluded. Data were provided as median values (min- max) and percentages. In this study, the rate of birth for females 18 years or younger was found to be 35 per 1000. The median age of participants was 18 (14-18) years. The prevalence of cesarean section was calculated at 55.7%. Prevalences of low-birthweight infants, preterm delivery, and eclampsia/preeclampsia were recorded as 44 (12.3%), 34 (9.5%), and 30 (8.4%) cases, respectively. Although the stillbirth rate was determined to be 1.7%, no congenital deformity was noted in infants, and none of the mothers died. The cephalopelvic disproportion rate was 5.9%, and only 2 adolescents experienced abruptio placentae. To reduce the occurrence of adolescent childbearing, pregnancy intentions must be assessed in multiple ways. Information/education may provide benefit to those female adolescents with inconsistent pregnancy intentions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canbaz
authors.forename: Ahmet T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Sunter
authors.forename: Cetin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cetinoglu
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peksen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology