Pregnancy Course and Outcome in Relation to Maternal Age

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy is considered as a special period during which woman needs special care and management of certain signs and symptoms. Advanced maternal age is defined as more than 35 years during pregnancy, while teen pregnancy is pregnancy during 15 – 18 years old. It is well established that advanced maternal age or teenage Pregnancy is associated with adverse effects that may affect the mother or the neonate like gestational hypertension or diabetes or preterm labor and others. Objective: The aim of this study is to observe the effect of maternal age during conception on the course and outcome of pregnancy Methods: The sample included 300 mothers chosen conveniently from four different PHCC in Baghdad during the period 1/2/2015 to 31/5/2015. The mothers were divided according to age groups. Data were collected by direct interview and answering the questionnaire, which provided demographic and health information about the mother and pregnancy. Results: Most mothers in the study were in the 18 – 35 years age group (61.7%). For the mothers aged less than 18 years, 64% of them had one child during the study period, 9%had abortions, 73%had term labor, 13%had preterm labor and 5%had post term labor. On the other hand, most women more than 35 years old had more than four children (64%), with abortion rates 15%, term labor 69%, preterm labor 10% and post term labor 5%. The study revealed that the rate of complications during pregnancy was 36% in the age group fewer than 18 years, 55% in the 18 – 35 years age group and 56% in the age group older than 35 years. Conclusion:  the number and rank of pregnancy are related to maternal age. 2. Term labor is the most frequent outcome of pregnancy in all age groups, with higher rates of preterm labor in young mothers and abortions in old mothers. 3. C.S is the most frequent mode of delivery in all age groups with higher rates in old aged mothers than young and preferable groups. Improved education level resulted in reduced complications during pregnancy in all age groups. Based on the findings we recommend regular visits by the mother to PHCC to reduce occurrence of complications during pregnancy, and advising families to delay the first pregnancy in teenage girls when early marriage happens.

Keywords: Pregnancy course, Maternal age, Pregnancy complications.