title: Comparative analysis of gestations and frequency of prematurity and low birth weight among children of adolescent and adult mothers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a comparative analysis between the frequency of prematurity and low birth weight among newborns of adolescent and adult mothers, and to evaluate selected maternal data.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative cohort study involving 703 pregnant women and their newborns at a public hospital in the city of São Paulo (270 mothers aged 10-19 years, and 433 aged 20-35 years), during the period from March to August 2003.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The birth of premature or low birth weight children was not prominent in any of the age groups; the small differences found were not statistically significant. However, significant differences were found between the two age groups in the items: number of gestations, with a predominance of first pregnancies among adolescents (70.3%), and a greater number of second or third pregnancies among adults (26.9 and 53.3%, respectively); in the prenatal period, fewer clinic visits among adolescents and more visits among adults (45.1% and 63.3%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The group of pregnant adolescents in the population studied did not differ from the group of adults as to frequency of prematurity and low birth weight. Among adolescents, there was a significantly higher number of primiparous patients compared to adults, and a lower number of prenatal visits.
authors: Unidade Neonatal, Hospital Municipal Doutor Fernando Mauro Pires da Rocha, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors: Maria Isabel Naliato
authors: MI
authors: Perez Neto
authors: Conceição Aparecida de Mattos
authors: CA
authors: Segre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult