Health implications of early childbearing on pregnancy outcome in Botswana: insights from the institutional records

Early childbearing can have deleterious effects on pregnancy outcome. This study in Botswana found that both birth injuries and congenital abnormaliti es were common among infants born to teenage mothers compared to infants of women aged 20-34 years. This statistically significant relationship disapp eared, however, when controls were introduced. Based on the results of this study, it appears that in order to improve pregnancy outcomes, frequent an d early prenatal visits and improvements in the socioeconomic environment a re needed. Thus, postponement of childbearing beyond teenage years alone wo uld not necessarily improve pregnancy outcomes in Botswana. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.