Adverse perinatal outcome in teenage pregnancies: is it all due to lack of prenatal care and ethnicity?

Objective: To investigate teenage pregnancy outcomes controlling for lack of prenatal care (LOPC) and ethnicity. Methods: A retrospective population-based cohort study comparing singleton deliveries of nulliparous women classified into two teenage groups: 15-17, 18-19, and a comparison group of 20-24 years was performed. Multiple logistic regressions were used to control for confounders. Results: The study population consisted of 31,985 women, 1,482 15-17 years old, 5,876 18-19 years old and 24,627 20-24 years old. A significant linear association was found between maternal age and perinatal mortality, low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PTD). Using multivariable logistic regression models, controlling for LOPC and ethnicity, the association between maternal age and perinatal mortality was no longer statistically significant, but both LBW and PTD were significantly associated with young maternal age (>17 years). Conclusion: Teenage pregnancy is a risk factor for LBW and PTD especially for parturient younger than 17.