Table 4.
Labor-and-Delivery Outcomes for Primiparas Aged ≤15 years (n = 37,320), 16–20 years (n = 491,474), and 21–25 years (n = 500,367, Reference Category).
| Without controls | With controls | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Means | Odds ratio, 21–25 = 1 | ||||
| Outcomes | ≤15 | 16–20 | 21–25 | ≤15 vs. 21–25 | 16–20 vs. 21–25 |
| C-section: all, % | 14.55 | 17.21 | 23.07 | 0.55 (0.53, 0.57) | 0.70 (0.69, 0.71) |
| C-section: critical, % a | 9.08 | 10.97 | 17.38 | 0.60 (0.57, 0.63) | 0.73 (0.72, 0.74) |
| Operative delivery, % | 10.78 | 12.15 | 14.63 | 1.06 (1.02, 1.11) | 0.95 (0.93, 0.96) |
| Any complication, % | 33.19 | 34.34 | 38.05 | 0.78 (0.76, 0.81) | 0.84 (0.83, 0.85) |
| CPD, % | 4.00 | 4.69 | 6.80 | 0.65 (0.61, 0.70) | 0.73 (0.71, 0.75) |
| Prolonged labor, % | 1.20 | 1.57 | 2.16 | 0.82 (0.72, 0.92) | 0.91 (0.87, 0.95) |
| Dysfunctional labor, % | 2.75 | 3.69 | 5.55 | 0.69 (0.64, 0.75) | 0.85 (0.83, 0.87) |
| Fetal distress, % | 5.14 | 5.69 | 5.98 | 0.76 (0.72, 0.81) | 0.90 (0.88, 0.92) |
| Abruptio placenta, % | 0.55 b | 0.56 b | 0.54 | 0.78 (0.65, 0.94) | 0.90 (0.84, 0.96) |
| Placenta previa, % | 0.13 b | 0.12 b | 0.17 | 0.67 (0.46, 0.96) | 0.64 (0.56, 0.73) |
| Cord prolapse, % | 0.30 b | 0.28 b | 0.31 b | 0.99 (0.78, 1.26) | 0.93 (0.85, 1.02) |
| Abnormal position, % | 2.60 | 3.13 | 4.04 | 0.72 (0.66, 0.78) | 0.81 (0.79, 0.83) |
| Birth injury, % | 0.16 | 0.21 | 0.25 | 0.92 (0.65, 1.30) | 0.95 (0.85, 1.07) |
| Meconium staining, % | 7.35 | 7.08 | 7.02 | 0.88 (0.84, 0.93) | 0.92 (0.90, 0.94) |
| Membrane rupture, % | 3.34 | 3.57 | 4.08 | 0.71 (0.66, 0.77) | 0.82 (0.80, 0.84) |
| Maternal bleeding, % | 0.52 b | 0.50 b | 0.52 b | 0.98 (0.80, 1.20) | 0.95 (0.88, 1.03) |
| Maternal seizure, % | 0.17 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 1.53 (1.46, 2.24) | 0.99 (0.80, 1.22) |
| Maternal fever, % | 1.92 b | 1.85 b | 1.99 | 0.95 (0.86, 1.04) | 0.93 (0.89, 0.96) |
| Other labor complication, % | 11.89 | 11.70 | 12.45 | 0.94 (0.90, 0.98) | 0.91 (0.90, 0.92) |
| Optimum delivery, % | 90.95 | 88.89 | 85.15 | 1.67 (1.60. 1.75) | 1.36 (1.34, 1.38) |
Raw means are tested for age-related differences without controls. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals are established via logistic regression in 1.126 million primigravidas (including all age groups), controlling for tobacco use, education, marital status, prenatal visits, diabetes, and race/ethnicity. Significantly better outcomes for 16–20 years or 21–25 years are shown in bold. CPD = cephalopelvic disproportion; C-section = cesarian section.
As defined in methods: C-section with CPD, fetal distress, dysfunctional labor, placenta previa, abruptio placenta, cord prolapse, abnormal fetal position, maternal eclampsia, or maternal hemorrhage.
All are significantly different, p < .001, except where indicated by the same superscript “b.”