Trends in adolescent pregnancies.

Pregnancies in adolescents aged under 17 years constitute about 1.3% of all births in Queensland. A study of 189 adolescent pregnancies at the Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane in 1977-1979 showed adequate antenatal care, and antenatal complications similar to those of a control group. There were greater incidences of unplanned Caesarean section, postpartum haemorrhage and puerperal infection. The major difference in the adolescent group was a perinatal mortality more than double that for the overall hospital population. The role of inadequate education in reproduction in the genesis of many adolescent pregnancies is stressed.