Abstract

FERNANDEZ, Liliam Susana; CARRO PUIG, Eugenio; OSES FERRERA, Dalia  and  PEREZ PINERO, Julia. Characterization of the pregnant adolescent. Rev Cubana Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2004, vol.30, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3062.

The aim of this paper was to identify some demographic characteristics and obstetric conditions of the adolescent mother at "Julio Trigo López" Maternal Children Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December, 2001. All the products of pregnancies of adolescent mothers under 20, independently of the weight or of the gestational age at the time of delivery , adjusting to the definition of "live birth" were included in the study. During the studied period there were a total of 1 675 live births, of whom 206 (12.3 %) were adolescent mothers. 45 % of them were under 18. Average age was 17.5. The youngest adolescent was 13 and the oldest 19. The frequency of single and accompanied women and the intermediate or late catchment was significantly higher in adolescents under 18, who showed other unfavorable factors for an adequate perinatal evolution. More than one fourth of them had at least one induced abortion. The frequency of low weight at the beginning of gestation (including the malnourished) was very similar to that of normal weight, and it was found that 40 % of the deliveries occurred mainly by cesarean section. 83 % of the newborn infants had a gestation time between 37 and 41 weeks. In 88 %, the weight of the newborn infant was over 2500 grams. The results allowed to confirm that the younger the adolescent mother is, the more the risks factors can influence on the newborn infant.

Keywords : Pregnancy; adolescence.