Purpose of investigation: The aim of this study was to compare the obstetric outcome of adolescent pregnant women (aged < or = 18) with the outcome of adult pregnant women who delivered in a tertiary university hospital.
Materials and methods: Delivery files from 2004 to 2011 were reviewed concerning age of the pregnant women, parity, gestational age, mode of delivery and birth weight of the neonates.
Results: During the study period 119 (0.94%) out of 10,483 deliveries were performed in adolescent women. Caesarean section was the mode of delivery in 41 adolescent patients (34.45%), while the corresponding rate was 53.6% (5,556 cases) in adult pregnant women. The preterm labour rate in the adolescent group was 13.44% (16 cases) while in the adult group it was 21% (2,201 cases). The most frequent indication of caesarean section in the adults was previous caesarean section (21%).
Discussion: In adolescent pregnancies the caesarean section rate was lower than in adult pregnancies. As far as the prevalent cause of caesarean section is concerned, it was repeat caesarean section for adults while in adolescents it was failure of labour to progress.