WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Wasan Taha Dawood and Jawad K. Al- Diwan

ABSTRACT

Background: Teenage pregnancy is one of the most important social and public health problem all over the world. In Iraq, teenage marriage is culturally, religiously and socially accepted and practiced. It is exacerbated after widespread violence. Publication on teenage pregnancy is scarce in Iraq. Objectives: This study aims to measure the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and study adverse birth outcomes and complications of teenage pregnancy. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in PHCC in Al-Sadr City. The data was collected for the period from 1st of May to 31th of August 2018. A total of 300 women at reproductive age were included in the study. Each participant was interviewed. The impact of the independant variable (maternal age) on the dependant variables (outcomes, complications and mode of delivery) was investigated. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 33.7%. Low educational status (p=0.001) and low occupational opportunities (p=0.001) were associated with early teenage marriage. Inadequate ANC was significantly associated with early teenage pregnancy (p=0.009). PPH, anemia, preterm labor, LBW, neonatal mortality, cesaerean delivery and congenital anomalies were associated with early teenage pregnancy, (p= 0.008, 0.001, 0.002, 0.001, 0.02 , 0.03, 0.02), respectively. No impact of maternal age on the rate of APH, GDM and gestational hypertension, (P= 0.2, 0.7, 0.5), respectively. Conclusion: Maternal and neonatal complications are higher during the early teenage years.