What impact does being a teenager have on pregnancy outcome?
Although the maternal mortality rate of teenagers is lower than any other age group, the most recent perinatal mortality report for England, Wales and Northern Ireland showed that this population have a higher risk of stillbirths (5.5 per 1000 total births), a higher risk of perinatal death (8.9 per 1000 total births) and a higher rate of neonatal death (4.4 per 1000 live births). The infant mortality rate of term/post-term babies born to mothers under 20 years is almost twice that of those born to mothers aged 30e34. Babies born to teenage mothers are also more likely to be born prematurely and are twice as likely in the long-term to be admitted to hospital as a result of accident or gastroenteritis. The impact of the father on pregnancy outcome must also be acknowledged. Babies of teenage fathers are at increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight and neonatal death independent of the mother’s age. Moreover, a young father’s attitude and behaviours have a strong influence on the health of the teenage mother and the baby.