Maternal Age and Pregnancy Outcome: A Springboard for Healthy Reproductive Guide

Abstract

Introduction

This study sought to determine pregnancy outcomes among different age groups. Specifically, it determined the pregnancy complications as to abruptio placenta, anemia, anhydramnios, eclampsia, fetal detal, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, HELLP, congenital anomalies, oligohydramnios,PES, placenta previa, pre-eclampsia, PROM, polyhydramnios, and ruptured uterus; obstetric outcome as to age of gestation, mode of delivery and birth weight. It further determined if pregnancy outcome is different among the different age groups.

Methods

The study used descriptive research design to characterize the pregnancy outcome of the different maternal age groups, specifically, adolescent, young adult and middle age. Data on pregnancy outcomes were gathered through document review of the obstetric records available at the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital. It used total enumeration of women who delivered at the Gov. Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012, and were categorized according to age groups –148 were adolescent(< 18 years old), 1442 were young adult ( 19-34 years old) and 177 were middle age (> 35 years old). The data were tabulated and analyzed using frequency and percentage for each variable. A comparative analysis was made to determine what pregnancy outcomes were predominant in each age group. Further, the chi-square test was used to determine whether maternal age is independent of pregnancy outcome.

Results

The resultsshowed that adolescent mothers have a higher risk for anemia and placenta previa compared to young adult and middle age mothers. Those belonging to the age bracket young adult have a higher risk for gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios, pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, and ruptured uterus compared to the two age groups. Middle age mothers are at higher risk for abruptio placenta, eclampsia, fetal death, gestational hypertension, congenital anomalies, PES, PROM, compared to the adolescent and young adult groups. As to the age of gestation, the study found that more middle-aged mothers had preterm delivery while more adolescent mothers had post-term delivery. Higher incidence of cesarean section in middle age mothers was found while adolescent mothers had a higher incidence of low birth weight.

Discussions

A significant relationship was found between the age of mother and pregnancy complications. On the other hand, there was no significant relationship found between age and obstetric outcome.