Comparative study of behaviors, attitudes and pregnancy outcomes between teenage and adult pregnancy in Trang hospital

Abstract

     Teenage pregnancy is the one of a crucial and multifactorial problem in Thailand. This research compares the behaviors, attitudes and pregnancy outcomes of teenagers and adults to develop the preventive protocol for teenage pregnancy and increase their quality of life.The design is an analytical cross-sectional study. The target population was teenage and adult who had labor in Trang hospital during July, 2021 to April, 2022. Data was collected by using direct questionnaires and from medical records then reported with descriptive statistic and using multiple logistic regression to analyze the relation of the results. For the results, from 323 pregnant women, there are 109 teenage pregnancy (33.75%). Behaviors which increase risk of teenage pregnancy are inconsistent contraception, going out at night, use a dating/meeting new friend application, have a friend experiencing teenage pregnancy and unmarried couple. Attitudes which increase risk of teenage pregnancy are agreement with teenage pregnancy and sexual intercourse, conformity to peer influence and perceived behavioral control. Pregnancy outcomes which more commonly found in teenage are anemia and syphilis infection. Multiple logistic regression analysis show statistically significantly result; unmarried couple behavior (Adjusted OR 17.92, 95%CI:3.99,80.38, p-value<0.001) commonly found in teenage and conformity to peer influence attitude (Adjusted OR 0.33, 95%CI:0.18,0.61, p-value<0.001) less found in teenage, Intermediate level of contraceptive knowledge is decrease risk of teenage pregnancy (Adjusted OR 0.09, 95%CI:0.01,0.36, p-value0.046). Teenage pregnancy has psychological effect in intermediate to high level more than adults (Adjusted OR 4.1, 95%CI:2.2,7.63, p-value <0.001) and less risk for cesarean section than adults (Adjusted OR 0.53, 95%CI:0.32,0.89, p-value 0.015). In conclusion, Behaviors, attitudes and pregnancy outcomes differed between teenage and adults pregnancies. Therefore, health care providers have to teach teenagers specifically to prevent teenage pregnancy