Are rural adolescents necessarily at risk of poorer obstetric and birth outcomes?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study were to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adolescent women giving birth at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, and compare these with those with all adolescents in New South Wales.

DESIGN

An investigative approach.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Obstetric complications, delivery intervention and adverse infant outcomes.

SETTING

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and sixteen adolescents aged 15-19 years.

RESULTS

In relation to obstetric complications and infants with complications, the study sample was found to be representative of New South Wales adolescents. However, for type of delivery there was a higher rate of forceps delivery (12.3% (15) vs 4.7% (415) P = 0.0001), forceps rotation (4.1% (5) vs 0.9% (80) P = 0.004) and fewer normal vaginal deliveries (67.2% (82) vs 80.8% (7108) P = 0.006) at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that rural adolescents are at risk of delivery complications and are less likely to have a normal vaginal delivery. More research is required into obstetric and birth outcomes for the rural adolescent population.