NEONATAL OUTCOME OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY AS COMPARED TO ADULT PREGNANCY IN A TERTIARY MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN SUDAN (SEPTEMBER 2016 TO JANUARY 2017)

Background and Objectives: Pregnancy during teenage years is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential influence of teenage pregnancy on neonatal health outcomes and to compare the delivery outcomes in teenage and adult pregnancy in a tertiary maternity hospital in Sudan.

Methods: This was a prospective and comparative study that was conducted in Omdurman maternity hospital in Sudan during the period September 2016 to January 2017. A total of 200 neonates were selected (100 cases) and (100 control group). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire containing maternal and neonatal data. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.

Results: The main results showed significant differences between the two groups with regards to level of education and socio-economic status (P values 0.015 and 0.029 respectively). The study didn’t show any significant differences between the two groups regarding gestational age or mode of delivery (P values 0.076 and 0.069 respectively). Regarding neonatal outcome, Low birth weight was significantly higher among teenage mothers (P value = 0.001), the study didn’t show any significant differences between the two groups regarding admission to the neonatal unit or low Apgar score (P values 0.377 and 0.277 respectively).

Conclusion: Teenage mothers were more likely to have low birth weight babies. In other respects, there were no significant differences between teenage and non-teenage mothers.