Comparison of obstetrical risk in adolescent primiparas at tertiary referral centres in Tanzania and Austria.
OBJECTIVE
Adolescent childbearing is most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. Deliveries in adolescent primiparas at an Austrian and an East African tertiary referral centre were compared to reveal differences in obstetric outcome.


METHODS
A total of 186 primiparas delivering at an age of 17 or less between 1999 and 2005 at the Austrian centre were compared with 209 adolescent primiparas who delivered between 2005 and 2007 at the African centre. The type of delivery and complications were studied.


RESULTS
Adolescent primiparas accounted for 1.2% of the overall obstetric population at the Austrian centre, as compared with 2.3% at the East African centre (p<0.01). When comparing the adolescents' outcome at the Austrian centre with the outcome of 22-27 years old primiparas at the same institution, we noted that the rates of adverse obstetric outcomes were higher among the adult group. However, at the East African centre the opposite was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to the results of Africa, data from Austria show that the obstetric outcome in adolescent pregnancies can be favourable. However, socioeconomic considerations have to be taken into account. Education and health knowledge seem critical for young females particularly in low-resource settings like East Africa.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania, East Africa.
Willibald
W
Zeck
Jeffrey
J
Wilkinson
Jospeh
J
Obure
Gileard
G
Masenga
Daniela
D
Ulrich
Olola
O
Oneko
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001946:Breech Presentation / Q000453:epidemiology; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology