Adolescent Deliveries in a Secondary-Level Care Hospital of Cameroon: A Retrospective Analysis of the Prevalence, 6-Year Trend, and Adverse Outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
Adolescents are generally ill-equipped to deal with the burden of a pregnancy. A high prevalence of adolescent pregnancies is among the indicators of limitations toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in most developing countries. We sought to determine the prevalence, 6-year trend, and adverse outcomes of adolescent deliveries. We also tested whether being married decreased the risk of adverse fetal outcomes in these adolescents.


METHODS
A 6-year retrospective register analysis.


METHODS
Buea Regional Hospital.


METHODS
Birth records from 2007 to 2012.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Prevalence and 6-year trend in the rate of adolescent deliveries; adverse fetal outcomes.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of adolescent deliveries was 9.9% (491 of 4941). There was no significant change in the annual prevalence of adolescent deliveries over 6 years (P trend = .8). Adolescent pregnancies were at higher risk of preterm deliveries (deliveries at gestational age <37 completed weeks; odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.2; P < .01), low birth weight (defined as birth weight <2600 g; OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4-2.3; P < .01), and neonatal asphyxia (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7; P < .01). There was no significant difference in the frequency of adverse outcomes between married and single adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
One of every 10 babies is born from adolescent mothers in the Buea Regional Hospital. Whether these mothers are married or not, their neonates are exposed to higher morbidity. This emphasizes the need for more adolescent-friendly public health policies geared toward reducing the prevalence of this condition to improve the chances of attaining the Millennium Development Goals in Cameroon.
Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Tsi
T
Njim
Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon; Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Group, Douala, Cameroon; Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon. Electronic address: schoukem@gmail.com.
Simeon-Pierre
SP
Choukem
Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Julius
J
Atashili
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Robinson
R
Mbu
D000293:Adolescent; D001719:Birth Certificates; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
Adolescent deliveries; Cameroon; Outcome; Prevalence; Suburban; Trend