Resumo

CARABALLO LA RIVA, Luisana. Estado nutricional y complicaciones inmediatas en neonatos de madres adolescentes. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2008, vol.71, n.2, pp.34-41. ISSN 0004-0649.

Introducction: In Venezuela, 21% of all live births are born to teenage mothers. The teen pregnancy is a social, economic and public health problem resulting in a higher risk of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality due to the higher prevalence of prematurity, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction and medical complications. Objective: To determine the influence of pregnancy during adolescence on the nutritional status of the newborn, its relationship with the risk of complications and identification of potential risk factors associated with this condition. Methods: Descriptive and prospective study of 102 children of teenage mothers between ages 14-19, born in the Hospital "Dr. Pastor Oropeza" (August-October 2007), assessed anthropometrically (weight, height, head and average arm circumference) during the first 48 hours of life. Statistical analysis included: measures of central tendency and dispersion as well as evidence of contrast medium (Student t) and the association of variables (Pearson and Chi square for p < 0,05). Results: Most of the infants were born at term (only 11.8% preterm). Of the total, 79.4% classified as suitable for gestational age, followed by large 13.7% and 6.9% small, with significant differences among different variables and anthropometric indicators to classify them according to their gestational age and weight for gestational age. The prevalence of low birth weight was 7.8%. 33.3% of newborns had complications, the most common: hypoglycemia (13.7%), jaundice (9.8%) and neonatal sepsis (7.8%). There was no association between maternal age or gynecological age with anthropometric variables studied. Conclusion: In this study, teenage pregnancy is not associated with deficit in nutritional status of the newborn or the emergence of immediate neonatal complications.

Palavras-chave : adolescence pregnancy; newborn; nutritional status; neonatal complications.