Cesarean delivery rates in adolescent pregnancy

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the rates of cesarean deliveries in two different hospitals, which serve different populations in Turkey. METHODS: The study was conducted at two centers, one of which is a university hospital in a rural area and the other a community hospital in capital city, for 5 years (1999-2003). The subjects were < 18 years old adolescent mothers. The adult controls ( 18 years) were further divided in two age groups: 18-35 years and > 35 years. RESULTS: A total of 40,391 pregnant women were evaluated in both hospitals. Cesarean delivery rates in adolescent pregnancies were not higher than adults. Moreover, in community hospital, cesarean delivery rate in adolescents was significantly lower (17.12% vs. 28.84%). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, the cesarean deliveries are not increased, and even decreased in adolescent pregnancies and biological immaturity is not a significant problem in adolescent pregnancy.