Pregnant teens are more likely to give birth to premature babies and children with low birth weight compared to women in their twenties, reports BBC News / Health.
Led by prof. Louise Kenny’s study included 50 women (000 to 14 years old) who gave birth in the North West of England within two years. 29 of them are teenagers aged 3600 to 14. One third of teenage mothers were, as defined, from backgrounds particularly at risk of social exclusion, and were often underweight.
Pregnant women under the age of 17 gave birth to premature babies 21 percent more often during their first pregnancy and in 93 percent of cases they also had a second child in a short time, also born prematurely.
Considering the numerous problems associated with prematurity, specialists emphasized the importance of routine medical examinations during pregnancy and of promoting contraception after delivery. Why adolescents give birth to premature babies should be shown by further research (PAP).