ASSOCIATION OF TEENAGE PREGNANCIES WITH ABORTION AND UNDERWEIGHT BIRTH. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Teenage pregnancies pose significant public health challenges in Pakistan, contributing to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes such as unsafe abortion and low birth weight (LBW). Despite these risks, data on associations in rural Sindh are limited. Objectives: To assess the relationship of teenage pregnancies with abortion rates and LBW outcomes among married adolescents aged 13-19 in rural Sindh province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 500 married adolescent females aged 13 to 19 years from rural Sindh districts of Tharparkar and Badin. Stratified random sampling and structured questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographics, pregnancy outcomes, abortion history, and neonatal birth weight. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses including Chi-square and logistic regression were performed using SPSS. Results: The mean age was 17.1 years; 65% had no formal education, and 72% belonged to low socioeconomic status. Abortion history was reported by 30% of participants, and 37% had LBW infants (<2500g). Significant associations were observed between younger age (13-15 years) and abortion (p=0.004), no formal education and LBW (p=0.001), and low socioeconomic status with both abortion (p=0.002) and LBW (p=0.009). Logistic regression confirmed these predictors with adjusted ORs ranging from 1.45 to 1.82 (p<0.05). Conclusions: Teenage pregnancies in rural Sindh are significantly linked to higher abortion and LBW rates, particularly among younger adolescents, uneducated, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Targeted interventions to delay pregnancy, enhance education, and improve adolescent reproductive health services are urgently needed.