According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 16 million teenage girls in a given country become mothers every year. Ruth Olurounbi, in this report, examines the health implications of teenage pregnancy. 

For every 1,000 girls aged  between 15 and 19 in the United States of America (USA) alone,about 40 teenage girls get pregnant, research has shown. And according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s latest statistics, there has been a recent five per cent rise in teenage pregnancies in the country.

Experts have said that pregnant teens and their unborn babies are exposed to unique medical risks. They observed that pregnant teenage girls, especially those who do not receive support from their parents, are at a higher risk of not getting adequate prenatal care, which is critical for a pregnant mother and her unborn baby, especially in the first months of pregnancy.

According to Dr Viviana Mangiaterra, from the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Department of Making Pregnancy Safer, a combination of factors makes teenage pregnancy dangerous. Biological factors, such as immature body of the teenage mother contribute to making teenage pregnancy unsafe for the mother and the unborn baby. “Social-economical aspects are extremely important as well as access to services. Children that are born by a teenage mother have a 50 per cent higher risk of dying than newborns that were born to older mothers,” she added.

Lack of access to services, Dr Seun Faborode, a gynaecologist with Above Rubies Hospital, Niger State, said includes lack of prenatal care. Prenatal care, according to him, monitors medical problems in both the mother and the baby, the growth of the baby, and deals quickly with any complication that may arise. Also, the prenatal vitamins such as folic acid, ideally taken before getting pregnant, are said to be a key in helping to prevent birth defects, such as neural tube defects.

Research has also shown that pregnant teenagers are at a higher risk of developing  pregnancy-induced hypertension than pregnant women in their 20s or 30s.

They also have a higher risk of preeclampsia, which is a dangerous medical condition that combines high blood pressure with excess protein in the urine, swelling of a mother's hands and face, and organ damage, Dr Faborode said. He added that these medical risks “affect the pregnant teens more because they may be unable to have access to medical care.”

This, he said, can disrupt the unborn baby's growth. And, this  can lead to further pregnancy complications such as premature birth or in most cases, low birth weight babies.

According to Dr Elizabeth Mapella, the Coordinator of Adolescent Reproductive Health Services in Tanzania's Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, “a young girl who has been coerced into sex might end up with pregnancy, HIV infection, and psychological trauma and this has a long-term impact. Some of them are also not accepted, they are even discriminated.” Dr Mapella spoke on WHO’s broadcast on the consequences of teenage pregnancy. Also, according to WebMD, for teens who have sex during pregnancy, STDs such as Chlamydia and HIV are a major concern. “It’s critical because STDs can rise up through the cervix and infect the uterus and the growing baby,” it added.

Also, the CDC has said pregnant teens may be at a higher risk of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression occurs after delivering a baby. And experts have said that depression can prevent mothers from taking good care of their newborns.

Another health implication of teenage pregnancy, experts have said, is the feeling isolation. Dr Yemi Olowojoba, a psychotherapist with Wellness Foundation, Ibadan, Oyo State, said that for teenagers who feel they cannot tell their parents that they are pregnant, feeling scared, isolated, and alone can pose a problem to them.

Dr Olowojoba added that without the support of family members and other adults, pregnant teens are less likely to eat well, exercise, or get plenty of rest.

The WebMD   also, noted that this set of expecting mothers “are less likely to get to their regular prenatal visits.” It said also that “having at least one trusted, supportive adult – someone nearby in the community, if not a family member – is invaluable in helping them get the prenatal care and emotional support they need to stay healthy during this time.”

How then does a pregnant teenager lowers the health risks that accompany pregnancy? Dr Faborode said she should get an early prenatal care. He charged a pregnant teen to see the school nurse or counsellor the moment she realises or feels that she is pregnant, if she cannot afford a doctor’s consultations fees.

A nutritionist, Dr Kemi Adeojo, advised that a pregnant teen stays away from alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes, as these could harm a growing foetus even more than they harm a growing teenager.

Dr Olowojoba said that it was imperative a pregnant teen tells her parents or someone she can trust about her condition so her health can be monitored. The WebMD also counselled that she asks for emotional support because “being a mother brings untold emotional and practical challenges - especially for teens still in school. Reach out to others – your friends, family, and the baby's father – for emotional and practical support. For teenagers who are healthy and strong, chances are good of delivering a healthy, strong baby, especially with early prenatal care and a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy.”

As for the parents and guardians, Dr Vicki Camach, of the WHO Department of Adolescent Health and Development, said that parents need to offer adolescents, boys and girls, different options in relation to sex and pregnancy, “and one important option is dual protection, so they get protected against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.”

She added that “girls need space for development. Girls need to be empowered to make the right decisions at the right time. If they really decide to have sex, they have to think about what it means and what the implications of having sex are. To do so, they need to have the right information, they need to know where to get services, and they need to know what it means having a baby, what are the consequences and the implications.”

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