Cesarean section deliveries among adolescent mothers enrolled in a comprehensive prenatal care program.

A comparison was made of the incidences of cesarean section deliveries between mothers 18 years of age or younger and those 19 to 21 years of age, all of whom were enrolled in a comprehensive program of prenatal care. Also compared were the indications for surgical delivery between the two groups. The rate of cesarean section deliveries was 8.7% among mothers 18 years of age or younger, compared to 14.5% among mothers 19 to 21 years of age. The general-ward cesarean section rate at the same hospital was 19.4%. Since maternal height and weight, and infant's birth weight may affect the diagnosis of cephalopelvic disproportion, these parameters were also evaluated. However, these did not differ significantly between mothers 18 years of age or younger and those 19 to 21 years of age or between vaginal and surgical births in mothers 18 years of age or younger. Thus, cephalopelvic disproportion did not contribute importantly to the cesarean section rate.

Duke Scholars

Author Phyllis Carolyn Leppert Obstetrics and Gynecology