Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in young adolescent parturients in an inner-city hospital

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine the relationship between adolescence and pregnancy-related outcomes. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a population of adolescents delivered in a large inner-city hospital. The study population consisted of 14,718 adolescents and 11,830 nonadolescent controls. Pregnancy outcomes were compared in young adolescents (n = 2930) and mature adolescents (n = 11,788) versus controls. Results: Adolescents were significantly more likely than controls to be African American, single, diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease during pregnancy, and reside with others ( P Conclusion: Young adolescents are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:918-20.)