Incidence and outcomes of adolescent pregnancy in consuelo, Dominican Republic between 2017-2022

Objectives: Despite global declines, adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health issue in the Dominican Republic. We examined the rate of adolescent pregnancy and associated maternal and neonatal outcomes in Consuelo, a semi-rural Dominican town. Methods: A retrospective review of labor and delivery records from January 2017 to December 2022 was conducted at Consuelo’s regional hospital. Descriptive analyses compared maternal and neonatal outcomes between adolescent and non-adolescent pregnancies. Results: Of 1,292 deliveries, adolescent pregnancies accounted for 22 %, ranging from 14 % in 2022 to 27 % in 2019. There were no differences between adolescent and non-adolescent mothers in rates of low birth weight, macrosomia, pre-term delivery, post-term delivery or neonatal death. Adolescent mothers were more likely to have cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD; p=0.005). Conclusions: There is a high incidence of adolescent pregnancy in Consuelo, adolescent mothers were more likely to have CPD, and interventions are needed to reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancies.