Adolescent mothers' neonates: a comparison study

Abstract

Morbidity was studied in neonate infants of 25 young adolescent mothers (13 to 15 year-old), 77 mid adolescent mothers (16 to 17 year old), 88 borderline adolescent mothers (18 to 19 year-old) and 100 post adolescent ones (20 to 30 year old). Young adolescents' children as well as children from all adolescent mothers showed higher morbidity rates as compared to those of controls (p < 0.05). A higher frequency of perinatal asphyxia in neonates of both young and borderline adolescents was evident. Weight, height, cephalic perimeter and Rohrer index were similar in the four groups. No correlation was observed between neonates' morbidity and the following maternal variables: marital status, morbidity and pregnancy rejection. Overall mortality of adolescents' children, particularly of those of mid adolescent mothers, was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.05}. In conclusion, and inverse correlation was found between neonates' overall morbidity and mortality and the age of the adolescent mothers.