Association of Maternal Age and Low Socio-Economic Status of Women on Birth Outcome

Teenage pregnancy is a major public health problem showing poor socio-demographic consequences while poor socioeconomic status shows the effects of weak national and local economies on health outcomes and limitation of resources which may reduce the availability of good-quality health services, including obstetric and neonatal care. The main objective of the study is to examine the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with young maternal age and poor socio-economic status of women in India. Third round of National Family Health Survey (2005-06) data has used and the eligible adolescent women were included in the analysis. Cross tabulation, chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to fulfil the study objective. Preliminary result shows that a young and poor woman reports more complications during pregnancy and lesser use of any health care services. Young mothers develop more perinatal complications like preterm delivery (34.5%), low weight at birth baby (27.4%), small size at birth baby (25.9%) as compared to adult mothers. There is a significant correlation found between having any complication during pregnancy and adverse birth outcome among adolescent women. Teenage pregnancy is still high privileged in India showing various health complication during pregnancy and adverse birth outcome. It is a serious matter of concern for the mother and child which need an effort to aware women about the health consequences of teenage pregnancy.