Maternal and perinatal prognosis of early motherhood versus normal motherhood at the university hospital center of Porto-Novo from 2013 to 2018

Abstract

Objective: To compare the maternal and perinatal prognosis of early motherhood versus normal 
motherhood. Methods: This was a case-control study carried out in the obstetric gynecology service of the Departmental University Hospital of Oueme-Plateau at Porto-Novo from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018. The "cases" were pregnant women under the age of 18 years old (early maternity) and “controls” pregnant women between 18 and 34 years old (normal maternity). The data were processed and analyzed with the SPSS 21 software using the Pearson chi-square test or the Fisher chi-square test with a significance level set at 5%. Data confidentiality and the anonymity of women were respected.

Results: The study involved 192 cases (early maternity) and 384 controls (normal maternity). The risk of maternal complications was about three times higher in the “early motherhood” group than in the “control” group with an overall maternal morbidity of 51.6% vs. 27.3% [OR 2.8 (1.9- 4.1)]. Maternal morbidity was marked by preeclampsia [31.8% vs. 16.7%; OR 2.3 (1.6-3.5)], eclampsia [44.3% vs. 17.2%; OR 5.6 (2.711.5)], the threat of preterm delivery [15.6% vs. 9.9%; OR 1.7 (1.1-2.8)] and immediate postpartum hemorrhage [7.8% vs. 2.6%; OR 3.2 (1.4-7.2)]. However, no case of maternal death has been recorded. As for the perinatal prognosis, we recorded approximately twice as many perinatal complications in the “early motherhood” group than in the “control” group [21.4% vs. 12.1%; OR 1.9 (1.2-3.2)]. Perinatal morbidity was marked by immediate neonatal distress [28.6% vs. 21.9%; OR 1.6 (1.1-2.3)] and secondary neonatal distress [14.1% vs. 8.6%; OR 1.7 (1.1-3.0)]. Also, the early motherhood group had a higher risk of low birth weight [18.8% vs. 10.7%; OR 1.9 95% CI (1.2-3.1)] and prematurity (17.2% vs 11.2%; OR 1.6 95% CI (1.10-2.7)]. 
Conclusion: Early motherhood remains a high risk pregnancy with maternal, fetal and neonatal complications. The fight against teenage pregnancies must be a daily concern.