Trends, characteristics, and outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in eastern Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the proportion of adolescent births in Van, Turkey, and to identify characteristics and related outcomes.


METHODS
Mothers who gave birth at three maternity centers in Van, Turkey, were chosen randomly and were invited to complete a face-to-face questionnaire. Participants were asked for demographic information and pregnancy history. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained from the birth records.


RESULTS
Of 1872 mothers who completed the questionnaires, 211 (11.3%) were younger than 19 years. Adolescent mothers showed significantly more inappropriate education for age (82.5% vs 70.1; P<0.001) and were married to less educated partners (76.3% vs 59.4%; P<0.001) following unofficial matrimonies (25.6% vs 10.7%; P<0.001) than older mothers. There were no differences between the age groups in rates of arranged marriages with relatives, income, and household structure. Adolescent mothers reported higher rates of intimate partner violence (17.1% vs 10.8%; P=0.008) and inadequate prenatal care use (28.4% vs 17.6%; P<0.001) compared with older mothers. Adolescent births were associated with an increased risk for preterm delivery (P<0.001) and low birth weight (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Cultural factors rather than economic factors seem to be related to early age at marriage and adolescent childbearing, which are associated with poor birth outcomes.
Edirne
Tamer
T
Department of Family Medicine, University of Yuzuncu Yil, Van, Turkey. tameredirne@yahoo.com
Can
Muhammet
M
Kolusari
Ali
A
Yildizhan
Recep
R
Adali
Ertan
E
Akdag
Beyza
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult