Pregnancy in adolescents

Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2012 Apr;23(1):123-38, xi.

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy remains a public health issue with significant medical, emotional, and societal consequences for the adolescent mother, her child, and her family. Teenage pregnancies are at higher risk of many adverse outcomes, including preterm delivery, low birth weight, and neonatal and infant mortality. Teen pregnancy and motherhood may have detrimental effects on the teen mother and her child; antenatal and postpartum care need to be adapted to meet the special needs of pregnant adolescents because standard obstetrical environments may not do so. This comprehensive review of adolescent pregnancy will highlight global statistics, factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy, social implications of adolescent pregnancy, obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, and the importance of multidisciplinary antenatal and postnatal care.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Contraception Behavior / ethnology
  • Contraception Behavior / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Policy
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / ethnology
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pregnancy, Unplanned
  • Prenatal Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors