Longitudinal health outcome and wellbeing of mother-infant pairs after adolescent pregnancy in Reunion Island, Indian Ocean.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate longitudinal care needs and health service access among mother-infant pairs after adolescent pregnancy.

METHODS

In a case-control study, data were analyzed from primiparous adolescent and adult mother-infant pairs who delivered at Reunion Island University Hospital, France, between January 2004 and December 2006, and were followed-up from maternity discharge until December 2011. Infant outcomes were hospitalization during the first 2 years of life, hospital access for "non-medical" reasons, and neuropsychiatric care. Maternal outcomes were number of pregnancies and childbirths, rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP) rate, pregnancy morbidities, and use of health services.

RESULTS

Data from 476 cases and 476 controls were analyzed. Adolescent and control offspring did not differ in the measured outcomes. Adolescent and control mothers had, respectively, 2.4 ± 1.3 and 1.9 ± 1.1 pregnancies; 1.9 ± 0.8 and 1.6 ± 0.7 childbirths; and RRP rates of 7.6% and 2.7% (all P<0.001). Adolescents had less pregnancy-related pathologies at the index pregnancy and more frequently had natural deliveries (P<0.05). Younger mothers exhibited higher rates (19.7% versus 6.9%, P=0.001) of care for psychosocial reasons (suicide attempt, acute alcohol or drug intoxication, road accident, psychiatric problems, physical abuse).

CONCLUSION

Concerns arise from the long-term psychosocial risk among adolescent mothers.