Pregnancy in adolescence, associated factors, and perinatal results among low-income post-partum women
Gama, S.Granado.Nogueira.da.; Szwarcwald, Célia.Landmann.; Leal Md, M.do.Carmo.
Cadernos de Saude Publica 18(1): 153-161
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0102-311X PMID: 11910434 Document Number: 266678
This study was conducted to compare socioeconomic characteristics, prenatal care and lifestyles of three groups of postpartum women, one consisting of adolescents (<20 years) and the other two of women 20-34 years old, classified according to their history of pregnancy during adolescence. A sample of 3508 postpartum women was selected from public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and interviewed just after childbirth. To verify the hypothesis of homogeneity of proportions, chi-square tests (chi-2) were used. Comparing the three groups, the most adverse conditions were found among the 20- to 34-year-old mothers with a history of pregnancy during adolescence. These women have the lowest educational attainment, the highest smoking rates and use of illegal drugs during pregnancy, and the fewest prenatal appointments. According to this study, prenatal care proved to be an effective compensatory policy for the prevention of prematurity and low birth weight, especially among adolescents mothers.