Pregnancy in a teenager is a high risk and complex condition with associated maternal and fetal complications. This is because the teenage mother is still undergoing physical, psychological, emotional, and social development.

The aim of this study was to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of teenage pregnant mothers in southern Nigeria and to analyse the difference in outcomes between booked and un-booked women.

This was a 5-year retrospective observational study of 6,964 deliveries conducted at a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria.

The incidence of teenage pregnancy during the period under review was 1.95%. The majority (68.4%) of the teenage mothers had completed secondary education. Pregnancy complications that were common amongst them included; anaemia (41.9%), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (14%), preterm delivery(19.4%), low birth weight (21.5%) and still birth (3.2%). The caesarean section and instrumental delivery rates were 0.5% and 5.1%respectively. There was a complication rate of (64.5%) amongst the un-booked teenage mothers. Furthermore, majority of teenage pregnant mothers who developed anaemia (82%), pre-eclampsia (77%) and still birth deliveries (100%) were unbooked teenage mothers.

Teenage pregnancy is a public health problem with diverse consequences, which are more pronounced in those who lack the opportunity to receive skilled care. Creation of awareness, proper contraceptive use, girl child education and quality obstetric care would reduce the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and possible complications.

Keywords: Incidence, pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, adolescent pregnancy, obstetric outcome

1. Offsprings of teenage mothers. Maternal and childhealth Journal.2008; 13(6): 847-856.
2. Iklaki CU, Inaku JU, Ekabua JE, Ekanem EI, Udo AE. Perinatal Outcome in Unbooked Teenage Pregnancies in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. ISRN Obstet Gynecol, 2012: 1 – 5.
3. Jimoh AS, Abdul IF. Outcome of teenage pregnancies in Ilorin, Nigeria. Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2004; 21 (1): 27 – 31
4. Emem BA, Abasiattai AM, Abasiubong F. Outcome of Teenage Pregnant mothers in Uyo, Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Medical Research;2006;101
5. Banerjee B, Pandey G, Dutt D. Teenage pregnancy: A socially inflicted health hazard. IJCM. 2009. 34(3): 227-231.
6. World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa. Adolescent health: A strategy for the African region. AFR/RC51/10 Rev. 1 Brazzaville, 2001.
7. Fleming N, Ottawa ON, O’Driscoll T et al. Adolescent pregnancy guidelines. J ObstetGynaecol 2015;37(8):740-756.
8. Olukoya AA, Ferguson J. Adolescent sexual and Reprodudtive Health and Development. Archives of Ibadan Medicine. 2002; 3 (1): 22 – 27.
9. Adeyinka DA,Oladimeji O, Adekanbi OT, Adeyinka FE, Falope Y ,Aimakhu C. Outcome of adolescent pregnancies in southwestern Nigeria: a case–control study. J Matern Foetal Neonatal Med, 2010; 23(8): 785–789
10. Ndifon WO, Ogaji DST, Etuk SJ. Sexuality, contraception and unintended pregnancy amongst female student nurses in calabar, Nigeria.
11. Ezegwui HU, Ikeako LC, Ogbuefi F. Obstetric Outcome of teenage pregnancies at a tertiary hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. Nigerian journal of clinical practice. Apr-jun 2012.vol 15. Issue 2, 147-150.
12. Garba I, Adewale TM, Ayyuba R, Abubakar IS. Obstetric outcome of teenage pregnancy at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital: A 3year review. Journal of Medicine in the Tropics 15 oct 2013
13. Onoh RC, Ezeonu PO, Anozie BO, Esike COU, Obuna JA, Egbuji C, et al. Outcome of Teenage pregnancy at a Tertiary Hospital in Abakaliki Southeast Nigeria. Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Science. Vol 3, No 1 (2014)
14. Udo A, Ekott M, Ekanem E. Teenage Pregnancy and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Calabar, Nigeria. The internet Journal of Gyneacology and Obstetrics Volume 17 Number 2
15. Habitu YA, Yalew A, Bisetegn TA. Prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy, Northeast Ethiopia, 2017: A cross sectional study. Journal of pregnancy. Volume 2018, Article ID1714527,7 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1714527.
16. Nwobodo EI, Adoke EU. Obstetric outcome of Teenage pregnancies at a Tertiary care hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria. Tropical journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol 22(2)2005: 168-170.
17. Maduforo AN. Prevalence of Adolescent Pregnancy in Ganye Local Government Area Adamawa state, Nigeria. JORIND 9(2) December 2011. ISSN 1596-8308.www.transcampus.org,www.ajol.info/journals/jorind

Mbereobong Saturday Etuk

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo. Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria