"Challenges of Teenage Pregnancy: Characterization of the Population of a Portuguese Hospital"

Introduction: Adolescence is characterized as a biopsychosocial transition from childhood to adulthood, rife with challenges. Parenthood during adolescence raises significant concerns for public health, society, and families, given the economic implications and associated medical, psychological, and social consequences. Objective: To assess the births of children born to adolescent mothers at a hospital in the northern region of Portugal. Methods: A retrospective study of all cases of births by adolescent mothers that occurred between January 1, 2015, and March 31, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program. Results: Since 2015, approximately 1.2% of all births at our hospital were to adolescent mothers, with a decreasing trend observed over the years. The average age of adolescent mothers was 17 years old. It was found that 77% of the mothers were students, and the majority received adequate prenatal care. A neonatal mortality rate of 2% was recorded. We observed that, at the time of conception, 83% of adolescents were in a relationship with the child's father, but this proportion decreased to 31% after childbirth. The majority of newborns were referred for follow-up care after hospital discharge. Conclusion: A decrease in the number of adolescent mothers has been observed in recent years, possibly due to the vigilant intervention of healthcare professionals and increased awareness of the risks associated with teenage pregnancy. In the pandemic year 2020, we observed an additional reduction in the number of pregnant adolescents, likely attributable to the restrictions imposed by confinement measures.