Nutrition for Special Groups

Nutrition for Special Groups 3(3+0)

Lesson 12 : Pregnancy in Adolescents

Maternal Health & Infant Health

Maternal Health

Common complications among adolescent mothers include iron deficiency anemia (which may reflect poor diet and inadequate prenatal care) and prolonged labour (which reflects physical immaturity of the mother). On a positive note, maternal mortality is lowest for mothers under age 20.

Infant Health

Pregnant adolescents have higher rates of stillbirths, preterm births, and low-birth weight infants than do adult women. Many of these infants suffer physical problems, require intensive care, and die within the first year. Adolescents have few financial resources, they cannot pay the costs. Further, their low economic status contributes significantly to the complications surrounding their pregnancies.