The association between young maternal age and pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to determine the association between young maternal age at delivery with adverse pregnancy outcome in a single, tertiary, university-affiliated medical center.

Methods: A retrospective, cohort, matched control study using the first percentile distribution of maternal age at delivery (21 years old, n?=?461) as the study group, and four control groups by maternal age matched by parity in a 2:1 ratio (22–25, 26–30, 31–35 and 36–40 years; n?=?922 each).

Results: Women aged ≤21 years were found to have lower rates of chronic hypertension [compared with women aged 36–40 years old (0.0% versus 1.3%, p?p?=?0.007), higher rates of perineal lacerations [compared with women aged 31–35 and 36–40 years old, 41% versus 31.8% and 31.1%, respectively, p?p?p?=?0.004). No significant differences were found in terms gestational age at delivery, birth weight, fetal sex, intrapartum or antepartum mortality.

Conclusion: Young maternal age at delivery is associated with increased risk of short-term complications after delivery.