The young maternal age and the pregnancy outcome in the UAE

Teenage pregnancy is a significant public health issue, as it has been linked to an increased risk of obstetric complications and adverse neonatal outcomes. The findings of studies conducted worldwide over the past ten years on the cause of adverse outcomes in teenage pregnancy are contradictory. Some studies report that the adverse outcomes are due to physiological and anatomical factors associated with young maternal age, while others report that they are due to external factors such as socioeconomic status, social support, inadequate antenatal care and other behavioral determinants associated with adolescence. The purpose of this study is to assess the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome among teenage mothers in a public hospital in Alain city in the UAE in the age group (15-20) years. To conclude, we found no evidence for major impairments of pregnancy outcome among married teenage mothers in conditions of high-quality maternity care with complete coverage and all the social and psychological support.