PRENATAL-CARE AND MATERNAL HEALTH DURING ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY - A REVIEW AND METAANALYSIS

Purpose: A meta-analysis and review of pregnancy complications and beh avioral risk factors associated with infant low birth weight and other poor outcomes which occur during adolescent pregnancy was undertaken using the published literature. Methods: Studies were eligible for inc lusion if they: 1) utilized a clearly defined sample of teenagers 2) p rovided numeric data on complications of interest or the proportions n eeded to compute this information 3) included a control or comparison group. Results: Many behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking and dr ug use) appeared to be less prevalent among teenage gravidas, particul arly when the young women were ethnic minorities. An increased risk of preterm delivery was associated with young maternal age in both devel oped and developing countries. In the developed world, risk of cesarea n delivery was reduced for teenagers and there was a secular decline i n maternal anemia and pregnancy induced hypertension in comparison to the risk sustained by more mature women. Programs of comprehensive pre natal care appeared to have the potential to diminish risk of many com plications. In the developing world, teenagers were at increased risk of maternal anemia, preterm birth and cesarean delivery. Conclusions: Although future research efforts will need to address the issues of bi as inherent in much of the published research, the published literatur e suggests that prenatal care regimens which provide social and behavi oral services along with medical care could improve both the health of the mother and the outcome of her pregnancy.