[Risk factors for pregnancy in adolescence in a teaching maternity in Paraíba: a case-control study].
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with gestation in adolescence in a State of the northeast of Brazil.


METHODS
A case-control study in the ratio of one 10 to 19-year-old adolescent (case) for two 20 to 35-year-old women (controls), with a total of 168 cases and 337 controls. The variables analyzed were: schooling, marital status, origin, family income per capita in Brazilian currency, paid job, mother's schooling, and presence of adolescent's father at home. Reproductive variables such as age at the first intercourse, mother's history of adolescence pregnancy, gynecological appointments before the pregnancy, knowledge, access and use of contraceptive methods were also included in the analysis.


RESULTS
The following variables were associated with gestation in adolescence: schooling lower than eight years, lack of a regular mate, and maternal history of adolescence gestation. Also, the age at the first intercourse was significantly lower among the adolescents and that they had a lower rate of gynecological appointments. Knowledge of hormonal methods and access to contraceptive methods were also less frequent among the adolescents. After the multiple logistic regression analysis, risk factors for pregnancy at adolescence were: low schooling (OR=2.3; CI 95%=1.3-3.8), age at the first intercourse lower than 15 years old (OR=3.6; CI 95%=2.2-5.7), history of maternal pregnancy at adolescence (OR=2.6; CI 95%=1.7-3.4). The history of previous gynecological appointments (OR=0.3; CI 95%=0.2-0.4) and the use of hormonal methods (OR=0.6; CI 95%=0.4-0.9) were protecting variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The main factors associated with pregnancy in adolescence were: the adolescent's low schooling, maternal history of adolescence gestation, lack of previous gynecological appointments and lack of access to contraceptive methods.
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG - Campina Grande, PB, Brasil. melamorim@uol.com.br
Melania Maria Ramos
MM
Amorim
Lidiane de Araújo
Lde A
Lima
Camila Vigolvino
CV
Lopes
Daniele Kelle Lopes de
DK
Araújo
Jéssica Guimarães Gomes
JG
Silva
Larissa Cynthia
LC
César
Adriana Suely de Oliveira
AS
Melo
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult