Fetal Outcome of Deliveries among Teenagers in Centre Region of Cameroon

Aims: In order to inform public health action, we sought to compare the fetal outcome of adolescent pregnancies with the non-adolescent ones.

Study Design: Retrospective cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Yaoundé Central Hospital, the largest facility of Centre Region (Cameroon) between May 2008 and March 2010.

Methodology: A total of 6041 deliveries were compared using rates, proportions, means and OR, the fetal outcome of adolescent (10-19 years old) deliveries registered at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, to those in their non-adolescent counterparts.

Results: Referred deliveries were significantly higher in adolescent participants compared to their non-adolescent counterparts (6.4% versus 4.3%, OR 1.53 95% CI 1.07-2.20). Non-adolescent pregnancies lasted significantly longer than adolescent pregnancies (38.46±2.72 versus 38.13±3.19 weeks respectively, p=.007). The former group had significantly higher rates of premature and post-term: deliveries (29.3% versus 24.5%, p=.041 OR 1.28 95% CI 1.01-1.62 and 4.9 versus 2.4%, p=.014 OR 2.11 95% CI 1.46-3.87 respectively).

The rates of cesarean and assisted vaginal deliveries did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (16.6% versus 14.6%, p=.207 and 1.5% versus 1.1%, p=.411 respectively). Babies born of adolescent mothers weighed significantly less (irrespective of birth order) than those born of non-adolescent mothers (mean weights 2984.80±647.81 versus 3190.72±645.45 grams, p<.001).

The odds of both apparent and perinatal deaths was significantly higher in the adolescent group (AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.25-2.47 and AOR 1.69 95% CI 1.17-2.45 respectively).

Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancies are associated with poor fetal outcome. There is need for counseling and provision of family planning services to reduce their incidence.