Adolescent Pregnancy and Birth Defects

Maria Manuela Sierra-Breton, Esteban Portilla-Rojas, Santiago Andrés Suárez-Gómez, Valentina Baquero-Castro, Laura Quintero, Gabriela Villamil, Juliana Lores, Karen Sarmiento, Ignacio Zarante

Abstract

Background and Aim: Adolescent pregnancy (AP) increases the risk of mortality and birth defects (BDs). This study aimed to characterize BDs among newborns of adolescent mothers and to analyze associated risk factors.

Materials and Methods: This was a population-based, retrospective, case– control study, conducted using data from the Program for the Prevention and Surveillance of BDs and Rare Diseases in Bogotá and Cali, from 2001 to 2020. The case group included newborns with BDs born to adolescent mothers, while the controls were newborns without BDs, born to adolescent mothers. Demographic variables were compared using Student t test (95% CI). Risk factors were assessed through univariate odds ratio analysis.

Results: A total of 1,764 cases were identified. The most frequent major BD was urinary tract anomalies (10.74%), and the most common minor BDs were ear–face–neck anomalies (18.34%). The occurrence of BDs was significantly associated with low birth weight, preterm delivery, inadequate prenatal care, lack of gestational folic acid supplementation, psychoactive substance use during pregnancy, and low socioeconomic status. Conversely, paternal age > 20 years was linked to reduced risk of BDs.

Conclusion: BDs are an important complication of AP. Identifying modifiable risk factors provides an opportunity to inform targeted public health interventions for this vulnerable population.