Case records and commentaries in obstetrics and gynaecology

Abstract

Data on teenage pregnancy collected during a cross sectional study of all deliveries occuring in the city of Nairobi between June and August 1981 is presented. The incidence of teenage pregnancy was 18.6%. The ante- natal care was generally of poor quality. High incidences of anaemia, syphillis and hypertensive disease of pregnancy were found. Labour was uncomplicated in the majority of the cases. The incidence of low birth weight babies was 17.7% which is twice the incidence found in the total obstetric population. Perinatal mortality and morbidity were 45/1000 and 69/1000 respectively. These rates were found to be higher than in the total obstetric population. Contraceptive usage was only found in 2.2%. The health implications of teenage pregnancy are discussed.