Abstract

BULGACH, Valeria et al. Adolescent mothers admitted with their children in a highly complex hospital: differences between early-middle and late adolescence. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2018, vol.116, n.2, pp.160-164. ISSN 0325-0075.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2018.160.

Teenage pregnancy is highly prevalent. Objective. To describe several features of a group of adolescent mothers admitted along with their children in a high complexity pediatric hospital and to explore the difference between those in early-mid and late adolescence. Methods. Observational, transversal study, through a survey including socio-demographic variables, information about their pregnancy, delivery and their newborns. Results. We included 227 mothers, 100 were aged < 17 years old and 127 were aged from 17 to 19 years and 11 months. Thirty percent of patients younger than 17 and 33% of the other group had preterm children; 12% and 2% respectively had very low weight newborns. Seventy-six (76%) and 77 (61%) mothers respectively were, in turn, daughters of teenage mothers. Conclusion. Prematurity was high in both groups. Younger mothers had higher rates of low weight newborns. Repeated intergenerational history of adolescence motherhood was found in two thirds of cases in both groups.

Keywords : Adolescent; Mothers; Vulnerable populations; Prevention.