Objective: To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between pregnant teenage girls (age <20 yrs) and pregnant adults (age 20-34 yrs).
Material and method: Seven hundred and fifty pregnant teenagers admitted and delivered at Rajavithi Hospital during November 8, 2006 and December 22, 2007 were enrolled in the study. A control group included 750 pregnant adults delivered during the same period.
Results: Preterm labor was the significant antepartum complication in the teenage mothers while diabetes mellitus was the significant one in the adult mothers as compared to those in the other groups. Teenage mothers had significantly higher incidence of cesarean delivery than that in the adult mothers. The neonates of the teenage mothers showed higher number of complications than those of the adult mothers.
Conclusion: Pregnant teenage girls had more maternal and neonatal complications than those of pregnant adults.