title: The growth and development of children born to adolescent mothers in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent pregnancy carries a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes. Currently, there are very few longitudinal studies that have investigated the growth of children born to adolescents. This study explores the birth outcomes and determinants in adolescent pregnancies with subjects enrolled from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study (TBCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the data of Wave I (6 months old), II (18 months old), and III (36 months old) of TBCS, a national sample of 19,381 pairs of mothers and their children were included for analysis. Out of these subjects, therewere560 pairs of adolescent mothers and children. Through completed field interviews with structured questionnaires, surveys with mothers or other family members, and with references to each child's birth certificate and Passport of Well-baby Care, the differences in birth outcomes, personal, pregnancy, and social profiles of the mothers were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 560 adolescent mothers (<20 years old) and 18,821 adult mothers (20-34 years old) were included in this study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of parameters of children growth and development. The numbers (proportions) of failure in milestones at 3 years old in gross motor functions, fine motor function, language, and social/personal development of children born to adolescent mothers are 13(2.32), 34(6.07), 10(1.79), and 24(4.29 %), respectively; while there are 392(2.08), 1015(5.39), 308(1.64) and 512(2.72 %) for those born to adult mothers, respectively. The risk factors of failure in children development were identified as "the mother isn't the night-time caregiver" and "family dysfunction".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in development at 3 years old among children born to adolescent and adult mothers.
authors: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Public Health Center of Wurih District, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Wei-Ya
authors: WY
authors: Wu
authors: School of Nursing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chi-Rong
authors: CR
authors: Li
authors: School of Nursing, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Pyng
authors: CP
authors: Kuo
authors: School of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Chen
authors: YC
authors: Chiang
authors: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. ulink@service-top1.com.|Department of Family Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung Hospital, 199, Sec. 1, San-Min Road, Taichung, Taiwan. ulink@service-top1.com.
authors: Meng-Chih
authors: MC
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: Adolescent mother; Children; Development; Growth; Taiwan Birth Cohort Study