Prematurity and low birth weight among Brazilian adolescents and young adults.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the incidence of preterm birth and low birth weight infants in young and older primiparous adolescents versus young adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Maternity hospital in Vitória, ES, Brazil.


METHODS
During a 5-year period, young primiparous women who delivered a singleton liveborn infant over 22 weeks were interviewed while in the postpartum ward.


METHODS
A single investigator performed all the individual interviews to collect sociodemographic variables and obtained gestational age and birth weight from the patients' charts before discharge.


METHODS
Participants were divided into 3 groups according to age: young adolescents (10-15 years), older adolescents (16-19 y) and young adults (20-24 y). The chi(2) test was used to compare the rate of preterm birth and low birth weight between the groups and analyze differences in sociodemographic characteristics between the 3 groups. P<0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
A total of 1124 participants were included: 164 young adolescents, 537 older adolescents and 423 adults. The rate of preterm birth was similar in the 3 groups: 4.3%, 3.5% and 4.5%, for young adolescents, older adolescents and adults, respectively (P=0.48). The rate of low birth weight was significantly higher among young adolescents (9.7%) compared to older adolescents (6.1%) and young adults (3.5%) (P=0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of preterm birth was similar in adolescents and young adults. Adolescent mothers under 16 years of age have a significantly higher incidence of low birth weight infants.
Rocha
Ricardo C L
RC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória Medical School, Espirito Santo, Brazil. ricardo.cristiano@yahoo.com.br
de Souza
Eduardo
E
Soares
Eduardo P
EP
Nogueira
Erica S
ES
Chambô Filho
Antônio
A
Guazzelli
Cristina A F
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult