Is a poor pregnancy outcome related to young maternal age? A study of teenagers in Estonia during the period of major socio-economic changes (from 1992 to 2002).
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk of low birth weight, preterm birth, stillbirth, neonatal and postneonatal death among primiparous teenagers having singleton births, compared to a similar group of women aged 20-24 years in Estonia during the period of major socio-economic changes.


METHODS
Registry study using the data from the Estonian Medical Birth Registry (EMBR) for years 1992-2002; EMBR data were linked with infant deaths in the Estonian Mortality Database. Study population included 51,890 women aged 13-24 years, arranged into three groups: < or =17, 18-19, and 20-24. Crude odds ratios (OR), adjusted ORs and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the different outcomes were estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Compared with women aged 20-24 years, the risk of low birth weight and preterm birth was higher among teenagers. The risk of low birth weight and preterm birth within the study group as a whole did not change during the study period. Increased risks in neonatal and postneonatal death among younger teenagers of an age of 17 years and less seem to be a result of prematurity.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite major socio-economic changes resulting in improvements in obstetric care and growth in incomes, teenagers remained a higher risk group.
Haldre
Kai
K
Tartu University Women's Clinic, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: kai.haldre@kliinikum.ee.
Rahu
Kaja
K
Tartu University Women's Clinic, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia.
Karro
Helle
H
Tartu University Women's Clinic, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia.
Rahu
Mati
M
Tartu University Women's Clinic, Lossi 36, 51003 Tartu, Estonia.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology