title: A comparison between adolescent mothers and adult mothers in terms of maternal and infant outcomes at follow-ups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the risk factors of adolescent pregnancies and to ascertain the effects of this condition on the maternal and infant outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 100 adolescent mothers less than 20 years of age and on a same number of adult mothers between 22 and 32 years of age and their infants. A socio-demographic attributes questionnaire form, a pregnancy follow-up and birth history form, and a mother and infant follow-up form were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the adolescent mothers was 17.8 ± 0.7 years and that of the adult mothers was 26 ± 0.3 years. Income level of 83% of the families of adolescent mothers and 69% of the families of adult mothers was below the poverty line (p < 0.05). Dropout rate (i.e. rate of those not attending any school) was 36% in the adolescent group and 21% in the adult group. Rate of exclusively breastfeeding during the first 2 months was 40% in adolescents and 62% in adults (p < 0.01). Higher rates of adolescent mothers felt themselves inadequate infant care and with 7% of them experiencing problems in accessing a healthcare institution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Properly following up adolescent pregnancies during prenatal and postnatal periods may be helpful for preventing the negative impacts on mother and infant health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Gynecology and Obstetrics Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun Kara
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Filiz Simsek
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Orhon
authors.forename: Sevgi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baskan
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulukol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses; D013332:Student Dropouts; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires