Determine Frequency of Adverse Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of Adolescent Pregnancy

Background: Adolescent pregnancies are associated with significant maternal and fetal risks due to physiological immaturity, limited antenatal care, and socioeconomic challenges. This study explores maternal and fetal complications in adolescent pregnancies, highlighting the influence of maternal age and gestational period. Objective: To determine the frequency of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in adolescent pregnancies and assess the association of these outcomes with maternal age and gestational period. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Rai Medical College Sargodha, on 378 adolescent pregnant females aged 15-19 years. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and medical records. Maternal outcomes assessed included anemia, PIH, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and preterm labor, while fetal outcomes included low birth weight, stillbirth, early neonatal death, and NICU admission. Participants were grouped by age (15-17 and 18-19 years) and gestational period (preterm <37 weeks and full-term 37-40 weeks). Results: The mean age and mean gestational age was 17.01 ± 1.42 years and 34.05 ± 3.77 weeks, respectively. Anemia was the most common complication (57.4%), followed by PIH (32.5%) and preterm labor (16.9%). For fetal outcomes, 34.7% of neonates had low birth weight, with NICU admissions in 7.1% of cases. Age groups showed no significant difference in outcome frequencies. However, preterm birth was significantly associated with NICU admissions (p=0.006). Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancies are associated with high maternal and fetal risks, particularly anemia, preterm labor, and low birth weight. Enhanced prenatal care is essential to mitigate these risks in this vulnerable population