Adolescent Pregnancies: Maternal and Fetal Complications In Yaounde University Hospitals

Abstract

Essiben Felix, Njotang Nana Philip, Damtheou Sadjoli, Moukouri Same Gertrude Francoise Sophie, Ojong Samuel, Ngate Anicet, Eko Eko Filbert and Robinson Enow Mbu

Introduction: Childhood pregnancies pose problems in their follow-up and care. We described complications observed in adolescent pregnancies in four reference hospitals in Yaoundé.

Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study took place from January 1 to December 31 2011 at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, the Yaoundé General Hospital, the Yaoundé Gynae-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital and the Yaounde University Hospital Centre. We studied the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the prognosis of 340 adolescent pregnancies. The data were collected from their medical records and analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 software.

Results: We registered 9287 deliveries of which 1247 were by teenagers, giving a proportion of 13.42% (1247/9287). Among them, 27.2% (340/1247) had complications and 26.2% (89/340) of the latter were seropositive for HIV. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 outnumbered the rest (47%, 160/340). The educational level was often primary (39.7%, 135/340) and secondary (38.2%, 130/340). More than half of teenage girls were dropping out of school (56.8%, 183/340). The pregnancy-related complications encountered in our patients included: anaemia (77.6%, 264/340), threatened abortion (24.4%, 83/340), preterm labour (20.6%, 70 / 340) and hypertensive diseases (19.4%, 66/340). As regards postpartum complications, 87.4% (297/340) of our patients developed postpartum haemorrhage, 22.6% (77/340) presented with endometritis and 11.2% (38/340) developed eclampsia. Neonatal asphyxia accounted for 18.2% (62/340) of the complications. The maternal mortality rate was 240 / 100.000 live births and the peri natal mortality rate was 91/1000 births.

Conclusion: Early pregnancies are associated with high morbidity and high maternal and neonatal mortality. There is a real need for family life education in schools and sexuality education at home.

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