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Amoadu M, Hagan D, Ansah EW. Adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancies in Africa: a scoping review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:598. [PMID: 35896998 PMCID: PMC9327294 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04821-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent pregnancy is a public health issue with well-defined causes and health risks with social and economic implications. Aim of this review was to examine adverse pregnancy outcomes and risk factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Africa. METHOD PubMed Central, Science Direct and JSTOR were the main databases for the literature review. Other online sources and experts were consulted for relevant studies. In all, 11,574 records were identified and 122 were considered as full-text studies for evaluation after thorough screening and removal of duplicates. Finally, 53 studies were included in this review for thematic synthesis. RESULTS The 53 studies sampled 263,580 pregnant women, including 46,202 adolescents (< 20 years) and 217,378 adults (> 20 years). Adolescent pregnancy was associated with higher risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Factors of poor pregnancy outcomes included low socioeconomic and educational status, poor utilization of antenatal care, risky lifestyles such as alcohol consumption, and unattractive health care factors. Maternal health care utilization was identified as an important factor to improve pregnancy outcomes among adolescents in Africa. CONCLUSION To prevent adolescent pregnancy, stakeholders need to help lower socioeconomic inequalities, poor utilization of antenatal care, alcohol consumption, and improve adolescents' health care and their educational status. Issues such as child marriage, abortion, poor health care infrastructure and non-adolescent friendly health facilities need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustapha Amoadu
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
| | - Doris Hagan
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Edward W Ansah
- Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Vasconcelos A, Bandeira N, Sousa S, Machado MC, Pereira F. Adolescent pregnancy in Sao Tome and Principe: are there different obstetric and perinatal outcomes? BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:453. [PMID: 35642050 PMCID: PMC9153156 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04779-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent childbirth is a major public health problem in Sao Tome and Principe (STP). Adolescent pregnancy and childbirth can carry a risk of morbidity associated with the physiological and sociological characteristics of teenage girls. This study aims to identify the main adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes for adolescent pregnancies in the Hospital Dr. Ayres de Menezes (HAM), the only hospital in STP. METHODS An institution-based cross-sectional study. Pregnant women ≤ 19 years of age (n = 104) were compared to non-adolescent women (n = 414). The obstetric and perinatal outcomes were compared between groups using the t test. Odds ratio (OR) were calculated through Cochran's and Mantel-Haenszel statistics test for odds ratio equal to 1, 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p values (p < 0.05) were considered significant. RESULTS The adverse perinatal outcomes imputable to adolescent births were foetal distress with low first minute Apgar score < 7 (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.18-3.18, p = 0.009) and performance of neonatal resuscitation manoeuvres (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.07-5.38, p = 0.032). Compared to older mothers, teenage girls were likely to have a non-statistically significant threefold higher risk of having an obstructed labour (OR 3.40, 95% CI 0.89-12.94, p = 0.07). Other perinatal outcomes as neonatal asphyxia, risk for cerebral palsy, premature birth, early neonatal infection, and neonatal death were identical between groups as well as maternal anaemia, mode of delivery or other obstetrical outcomes. CONCLUSION Adolescent pregnancies were associated with worse perinatal outcomes as foetal distress and higher need for neonatal resuscitation manoeuvres. This study may support STP health authorities in their efforts to make Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education) and 5 (gender equality) a reality by 2030, since it identifies specific problems that need to be addressed to improve maternal adolescent health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Vasconcelos
- Unidade de Clínica Tropical ‑ Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Nelson Bandeira
- Hospital Dr. Ayres de Menezes, República Democrática de São Tomé E Príncipe, Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe
| | - Swasilanne Sousa
- Hospital Dr. Ayres de Menezes, República Democrática de São Tomé E Príncipe, Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe
| | - Maria Céu Machado
- Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filomena Pereira
- Unidade de Clínica Tropical ‑ Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Njim T, Tanyitiku BS, Babila CS. Prevalence of adolescent deliveries and its complications in Cameroon: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Public Health 2020; 78:24. [PMID: 32391147 PMCID: PMC7199297 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-020-00406-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent deliveries (10-19 years) carry a high risk of adverse outcomes due to the biological and physiological immaturity of these mothers. They pose a significant health burden in Cameroon, as it is reported that a high proportion of women attending delivery services are teenagers. We therefore sought to systematically assess the prevalence of adolescent deliveries in the country and its maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS This was a systematic review of literature and a meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL and Global Health online databases for all studies that reported the proportion of adolescent women who presented for delivery in health facilities in Cameroon. All observational studies published up to 10th July 2019, were included. RESULTS A total of 47 articles were identified by the search. After removal of duplicates and screening of the titles and abstracts, 11 eligible studies were retained with ten articles meeting the inclusion criteria. These ten studies finally retained reported on nine different cohorts with a total of 99,653 women. The pooled prevalence of adolescent deliveries from the nine cohorts in Cameroon was 14.4% (95% CI: 10.7-18.6%), the prevalence for early adolescent deliveries was 2.8% (95% CI: 0.4-7.2%), meanwhile that for late adolescent deliveries was 12.5% (95% CI: 6.7-19.8%). The prevalence of adolescent deliveries in urban areas - 13.1% (95% CI: 7.8-19.6%) was similar to that in semi-urban areas- 14.1% (95% CI: 6.7-23.5%). Adolescents were more likely than adults (> 19 years) to have low birth weight babies (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.6, 2.1); babies born with asphyxia (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.1); babies born before term (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.9) and babies who die in the neonatal period (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.8). CONCLUSION The prevalence of adolescent deliveries in Cameroon is high. Implementation of adolescent-friendly policies is necessary to reduce the proportion of adolescents who become pregnant in Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsi Njim
- Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Group, Douala, Littoral region Cameroon
| | - Bayee Swiri Tanyitiku
- Higher Institute of Commerce and Management, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, North west region Cameroon
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Grønvik T, Fossgard Sandøy I. Complications associated with adolescent childbearing in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204327. [PMID: 30256821 PMCID: PMC6157872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine whether childbearing before age 18 in Sub-Saharan Africa is associated with increased risk of maternal and child complications through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods The literature on adolescent pregnancy and associated complications in Sub-Saharan Africa was reviewed. A systematic electronic database search in Medline and Embase identified relevant papers. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they had numeric data on maternal mortality, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, stillbirth, neonatal death or perinatal death. We included studies on adolescents aged 17 years or younger, and with a comparison group of adult women aged between 20 and 35 years. The quality of the articles was assessed. Meta-analyses were conducted when there were at least three included studies with minor clinical heterogeneity in population and outcome measures. Results Eighteen studies met our inclusion criteria. There were many studies from Sub-Saharan Africa with data on the age group 15–19 years old, but few studies had separate data on adolescents <18 years old. All included studies were of either moderate or low quality. Adolescents had an increased risk of low birth weight, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, preterm birth and maternal and perinatal mortality. We found a lower, nonsignificant risk of stillbirth and for small for gestational age babies among the young mothers. Conclusion In this systematic review, the findings indicate that young maternal age is associated with some unfavorable outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. High quality observational studies that adjust for sociodemographic factors are lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taran Grønvik
- Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Ingvild Fossgard Sandøy
- Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health (CISMAC), Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Tamambang RF, Njim T, Njie AE, Mbuagbaw L, Mafuta A, Tchana M, Choukem SP. Adolescent deliveries in urban Cameroon: a retrospective analysis of the prevalence, 6-year trend and adverse outcomes. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:469. [PMID: 30005713 PMCID: PMC6044024 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3578-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Adolescent deliveries remain a public health problem in most developing countries. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence, trends and outcome of adolescent deliveries in an urban setting in Cameroon. We carried out a retrospective register analysis over a 6-year period (January 2010–December 2015) at the Saint Albert Le Grand hospital Douala. Results The overall prevalence of adolescent deliveries was 8.2% (662 out of 8056). There was a significant decrease over the 6-year period (p-trend: < 0.05). Adolescents were at higher risk of preterm deliveries (gestational age < 37 weeks; odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.3–2.2; p < 0.01): low birth weight (defined as birth weight < 2650 g, OR; 1.7, CI 1.4–2.2, p < 0.01) and asphyxia at 1st minute (OR, 1.5; 95% CI 1.1–2.2; p = 0.02). There was no difference in delivery outcomes between early and late adolescents. Our results suggest that the prevalence of adolescent deliveries is lower in urban settings. Adolescent deliveries are more likely to result in adverse fetal outcomes than adult deliveries. Measures directed towards the prevention of adolescent pregnancies should be implemented to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3578-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita F Tamambang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Tsi Njim
- Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network, Douala, Cameroon. .,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.
| | - Albertine E Njie
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Mesack Tchana
- Obstetric and Gynecology Unit, Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Simeon-Pierre Choukem
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network, Douala, Cameroon.,Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Hospital, Douala, Douala, Cameroon
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Njim T, Agbor VN. Adolescent deliveries in rural Cameroon: comparison of delivery outcomes between primipara and multipara adolescents. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:427. [PMID: 29970162 PMCID: PMC6029040 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3550-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Adolescent pregnancies are high risk and deliveries in this age group are usually associated with adverse outcomes. The perception that multiparous adolescents have better delivery outcomes than primiparous counterparts is not uncommon. We sought to determine if multiparous adolescents were precluded from having adverse delivery outcomes when compared to primiparous adolescents. The data used for the analysis is a side product from a published project aimed at mapping the epidemiology of adolescent deliveries in the Oku health district. Results From an 8-year (2009–2016) retrospective register analysis of data from two primary healthcare facilities in the Oku health district—a rural area in Cameroon, the prevalence of multiparous adolescent deliveries was 21.5% (78/363). After multivariable analyses, and adjusting for age, sex of baby, gestational age, marital status and HIV status, primiparous adolescents were more likely to have low birth weight infants (LBW) (OR: 3.2; 95% CI 1.1, 9.7; p = 0.04) when compared with multiparous adolescents. Though primiparous adolescents were more likely to have LBW infants than multiparous adolescents, this group of mothers are generally ill-equipped to handle pregnancies and adolescent-friendly programs are necessary to decrease the associated burden. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3550-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsi Njim
- Centre for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 7BN, UK. .,Health and Human Development Research Group (2HD), Douala, Cameroon.
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Bain LE, Kongnyuy EJ. Eliminating the high abortion related complications and deaths in Cameroon: the restrictive legal atmosphere on abortions is no acceptable excuse. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2018; 18:71. [PMID: 29793462 PMCID: PMC5968528 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0564-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The abortion law in Cameroon is highly restrictive. The law permits induced abortions only when the woman's life is at risk, to preserve her physical and mental health, and on grounds of rape or incest. Unsafe abortions remain rampant with however rare reported cases of persecution, even when these abortions are proven to have been carried out illegally. DISCUSSION Available public health interventions are cheap and feasible (Misoprostol and Manual Vacuum Aspiration in post abortion care, modern contraception, post-abortion counseling), and must be implemented to reduce unacceptably high maternal mortality rates in the country which still stand at as high as 596/100.000. Changes in the legal status of abortions might take a long time to come by. Albeit, advocacy efforts must be reinforced to render the law more liberal to permit women to seek safe abortion services. The frequency of abortions, generally clandestine, in this restrictive legal atmosphere has adverse economic, health and social justice implications. CONCLUSION We argue that a non-optimal or restrictive legal atmosphere is not an acceptable excuse to justify these high maternal deaths resulting from unsafe abortions, especially in Cameroon where unsafe abortions remain rampant. Implementing currently available, cheap and effective evidence based practice guidelines are possible in the country. Expansion and use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration kits in health care facilities, post-abortion misoprostol and carefully considering the content of post abortion counseling packages deserve keen attention. More large scale qualitative and quantitative studies nationwide to identify and act on context specific barriers to contraception use and abortion related stigma are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luchuo Engelbert Bain
- Centre for Population Studies and Health Promotion, CPSHP, Yaounde, Cameroon. .,Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health & Life Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Agbor VN, Mbanga CM, Njim T. Adolescent deliveries in rural Cameroon: an 8-year trend, prevalence and adverse maternofoetal outcomes. Reprod Health 2017; 14:122. [PMID: 28962649 PMCID: PMC5622552 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-017-0382-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescent deliveries remain a global public health concern especially in low- and middle-income countries where 95% of these deliveries occur. In Cameroon, adolescent pregnancies have a high disease burden due to their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We sought to evaluate the prevalence, trend and adverse maternofoetal outcomes of adolescent deliveries in a rural community in Cameroon. Method We carried out a retrospective register analysis of 1803 singleton deliveries in two health facilities located in the Oku sub-division over an 8-year period (2009 to 2016). We excluded: records without maternal age, babies born before arrival, birthweights less than 1000 g, multiple deliveries and deliveries before 28 weeks gestation. Data analysis was done using Epi info 7.0.8.3. The Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical variables, while the chi-square test for trends was used to determine time trends. P-values below 5% were considered statistically significant. Results The 8-year prevalence of adolescent deliveries was 20.4% (95% CI = 18.6–22.4) with a significant, downward trend between 2009 and 2016 (P trend = 0.05). Second-fourth degree perineal tears were more likely to complicate adolescent (Age < 20 years) deliveries compared with their adult (Age ≥ 20 years) counterparts (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.8–4.7; p < 0.001). Also, babies born to adolescent mothers were more likely to have a low birthweight (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1–2.6; p = 0.009) and be asphyxiated at the fifth minute of life (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.9–5.5; p < 0.001). Over an eight-year period, the downward trend in the prevalence of adolescent deliveries was associated with a significant decrease in the trend of neonatal asphyxia at the fifth minute. Married adolescents and their babies were as likely to develop the complications of adolescent delivery such as second-fourth degree perineal tears (OR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.4–1.6; p = 0.456), low birthweight (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.9–4.7; p = 0.070) and fifth minute neonatal asphyxia (OR = 0.9; 95% CI = 0.4–2.0; p = 0.832) as single adolescents and their babies. Conclusion The prevalence of adolescent deliveries in this rural community is high with one of every five babies born to an adolescent mother. Despite the downward trend indicating a decrease in adolescent deliveries, our study demonstrates the need to reinforce and effectively apply existing government-based public health programme to target key indicators of adolescent pregnancy in Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tsi Njim
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.,Health and Human Development Research Group (2HD), Douala, Cameroon
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Njim T, Choukem SP, Mbu R. Cesarean sections in a secondary level care hospital of Cameroon: an analysis of their six-year trends and adverse neonatal outcomes. BMC Res Notes 2017; 10:430. [PMID: 28851419 PMCID: PMC5576232 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-2750-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to determine the trends of CS in a regional hospital in Cameroon and to explore its association with adverse neonatal outcomes. METHODS The study was conducted in the Buea Regional Hospital (BRH), Cameroon. A 6-year retrospective records analysis was used to determine the trends in rates of CS and neonatal adverse outcomes. In a 3-month prospective phase, indications of CS were identified. RESULTS Of a total of 4941 records reviewed from the year 2007 to 2012, the overall CS rate was 20.4%. The rates increased from 17.1% in 2007 to 20.9% in 2012, with a peak of 22.7% in 2011, but this time-trend was not significant (p-trend =0.06). Three of the 25 cases of CS (12%) in the prospective phase were done at the request of mothers. The odds of having a low first minute APGAR (APGAR <7) in neonates born from CS were higher than in neonates born from a normal delivery (OR = 6.6 and 95% CI 5.7-7.7; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION One out of every five women give birth through a CS in the BRH. This rate of CS is relatively high for a suburban population in a developing country. Strategies to reduce these rates should be investigated and instituted in the BRH to reduce health expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsi Njim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network, Douala, Cameroon.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Simeon-Pierre Choukem
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. .,Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network, Douala, Cameroon. .,Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Hospital, P.O. Box 4856, Douala, Cameroon.
| | - Robinson Mbu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
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Abstract
Objectives Adolescent pregnancies are high risk due to the increased probability of adverse outcomes; as adolescents are usually considered to be ill-equipped to deal with the burden of pregnancy. We sought to determine the prevalence of adolescent deliveries in a secondary-level care hospital in semi-urban Cameroon-Bamenda, the adverse neonatal outcomes and to assess if previous obstetric history could preclude adolescents from having adverse outcomes in their present pregnancy. Results The prevalence of adolescent deliveries was 8.7% (95% CI 7.01–10.73%). The neonates of adolescent mothers were more likely to have severe asphyxia (OR 4.0; 95% CI 1.2–12.9; p = 0.03) and low birth weight (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3–4.4; p < 0.01). The neonates of primipara adolescents were just as likely to have complications as multipara adolescents. The prevalence of adolescent deliveries (8.7%) in the Regional Hospital Bamenda is high. Their babies are at a high risk of adverse neonatal outcomes irrespective of their previous obstetric history (previous delivery) emphasising that adolescents are generally ill-prepared to deal with pregnancy. Strategies to reduce the prevalence of adolescent deliveries should be investigated and implemented in view of attaining the sustainable development goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsi Njim
- Centre for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK. .,Health and Human Development Research Group (2HD), Douala, Cameroon.
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