[Trends in the incidence of positive pregnancy tests in adolescents seen in an emergency department].

INTRODUCTION

The current debate on induced abortion and the age when a young woman is considered mature to have this without parental consent, shows the need to know the real importance of adolescent pregnancy in the Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVES

a) To determine the adolescent pregnancy rate variation in the Emergency Department during last 12 years; b) to determine the characteristics of the pregnant adolescent and the outcome of their pregnancies.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospective study of pregnant adolescents diagnosed in the Emergency Department between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 2009. Pregnancy rates were calculated per 1000 annual female adolescent consultations. Two periods were considered: 1/from July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2003 and 2/from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2009.

RESULTS

Eighty-three pregnancies were diagnosed in adolescents. Pregnancy rates varied from 0.5 to 2.0 per 1000 females; an increased trend in adolescent pregnancy rate was observed in the second period. Metrorrhagia, abdominal pain and vomiting were the most frequent complaints. There were 62 on-going pregnancies, 20 abortions and one ectopic pregnancy. Only 35 of the outcomes of the 62 on-going pregnancies were known: 19 ended in live birth, 11 in induced abortion and 4 in stillbirth.

CONCLUSIONS

The adolescent pregnancy rate is low; nevertheless an increased trend is being observed in the last few years. Many adolescents diagnosed with pregnancy had nonspecific complaints, so it is important to ask about sexual habits in all adolescents. A high percentage of diagnosed pregnancies end in abortion.