Effect of Young Maternal Age on Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes: Results from the Tertiary Center in Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Young maternal age is variously defined in studies of its effect on obstetrics and perinatal outcomes. Also, pregnancy has been reported as the leading cause of death in adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether young maternal age was associated with an increased risk of obstetrics and perinatal adverse outcomes.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
This case-control study was derived from a database of the medical records between January 2008 and December 2012. In the present study, 1374 teenage pregnancy and 1294 adult pregnancy cases were included. After restriction of analyses to singleton primiparous women, 1282 teenage pregnancy and 735 adult pregnancy cases were analyzed. Maternal age was separated into three groups: 15 and less, 16-19, and 20-34 years. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were derived through logistic regression models for the potential confounding factors.


RESULTS
Adolescents aged 15 years and younger had higher risks of preterm delivery, early preterm delivery, intrauterine fetal death and neonatal death compared with women aged 20 to 34 years after adjustment for confounding factors. In addition, both groups of adolescents had higher risks for anemia and episiotomy and lower risk of cesarean delivery. The rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, chronic diseases, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were higher in the adult group.


CONCLUSIONS
Younger maternal age was correlated with increased risks of preterm delivery, fetal and neonatal death and anemia.
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Oya
O
Demirci
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Ertuğrul
E
Yılmaz
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Özgür
Ö
Tosun
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Pınar
P
Kumru
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Arzu
A
Arınkan
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Didar
D
Mahmutoğlu
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Selçuk
S
Selçuk
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Zehra Nihal
ZN
Dolgun
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Resul
R
Arısoy
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Emre
E
Erdoğdu
Department of Perinatology, Zeynep Kamil Gynecologic and Pediatric Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Nazan
N
Tarhan
Adolescent pregnancy; perinatal mortality; preterm delivery