Risks Facing a Pregnant Teen in Iraq, the Health Problems, and the Proposed Solutions

Teenage pregnancy continues to be a major health and social problem in various parts of the world including Iraq. A case control study conducted over 2 years in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Al-Yarmouk tertiary hospital in Baghdad. Two-hundred primigravida were chosen according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, the case group were 100 late teenagers (16 y-19 y) and the control group were 100 women aged between 26-29 y. The women in both groups were attending labor ward, clinical and laboratory evaluation was performed, and women were followed during labor. The mode of delivery and neonatal outcome were all recorded. In comparison to the adult women group, teenage mothers have lack of antenatal care and less use of supplements (P<0.0001), lower iron indices particularly serum iron and serum ferritin (P<0.0001). In addition, there was a higher incidence of Caesarean section (P=0.0326), postpartum hemorrhage (P=0.046). Neonates of younger mothers were more likely to be preterm (P<0.0001), have low birth weight (P<0.0009), intrauterine growth restriction (P=0.005) with higher neonatal mortality (P=0.017). Teenage mothers have higher antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum complications in addition to poor neonatal outcomes in comparison to their older peers. It is crucial to spread awareness and knowledge about these risks to reduce the still high incidence of pregnancy among this group of population. Moreover, young mothers should be advised about the importance of antenatal care attendance, good nutrition, and the use of supplements during pregnancy to enhance health both for mothers and their offspring.