Association between Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Adolescent Mothers

• Author / Creator

  Amjad, Sana

• The association between adolescent childbearing and adverse pregnancy outcomes has been well
  documented in the literature. The association of social determinants of health (SDOH) and
  adverse adolescent pregnancy outcomes remains controversial. The overall aim of this thesis was
  to explore the role of SDOH in adverse adolescent pregnancy outcomes. A systematic review of
  the literature was conducted to summarize the current evidence on the association between
  SDOH and adverse maternal and birth outcomes in adolescent mothers. To investigate the
  combined impact of maternal area of residence and socioeconomic status (SES) on adverse
  adolescent pregnancy outcomes, a cross sectional study was conducted using population-based
  administrative health data from Alberta. Singleton live births to mothers aged 15-19 years (2010-
  2015) were extracted from the Alberta Perinatal Health Program registry. Maternal area of
  residence and neighborhood-level SES variables were determined using the Pampalon Material
  Deprivation Index Dataset. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression
  models using urban, high-SES mothers as the reference category. Overall, rural mothers with low
  SES were found to have the highest rate of poor obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Compared to
  urban mothers with high SES, rural adolescents with low SES had increased odds of postpartum
  hemorrhage (Odds Ratio [OR]:1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41, 1.74); operative vaginal
  delivery (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.60), caesarean section (OR:1.39; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.62) and
  preterm birth (OR: 1.48; 95% CI:1.17, 1.87).This study enhances current understandings on the
  role of SDOH in adverse adolescent pregnancy outcomes and is a valuable addition to the
  existing literature on perinatal health inequalities in adolescent pregnancy outcomes. Based on
  study findings, suggestions are put forth for possible interventions aimed at reducing the gap in
  adverse adolescent pregnancy outcomes.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Perinatal epidemiology
  • Pregnancy outcomes
  • Adolescent
  • Social determinants of health

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R36H4D621

• License

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