# Effects of Maternal Age on Fetus and Perinatal Outcomes in a Tertiary Care Center: An Observational Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how maternal age affects pregnancy outcomes in Nepal, finding higher risks of stillbirths and abnormal birth weights in teenage and older mothers.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into perinatal outcomes associated with maternal age in a Nepalese population using a large observational dataset.

## Key findings

- Teenage pregnancies had higher rates of stillbirths and low-birth-weight newborns.
- Advanced maternal age was associated with higher rates of high-birth-weight newborns.
- Most pregnancies occurred within the normal reproductive age range.

## Abstract

The early and late pregnancy both can be hazardous for mother and child. The study aims to explore the maternal age group among Nepalese women who delivered in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and its effects on perinatal outcomes.

An observational cross-section study was carried out from February to September, 2023 with the records of maternity cases at a tertiary care hospital after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee [Reference number: 130(6-11) E2-2 079/080]. The records of maternity cases of four years duration from April, 2018 onwards were included. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel 2016 and descriptive analysis was done.

Out of 13062 maternity cases, the prevalence of pregnancy in normal reproductive age was 12035 (92.13%). A total of 882 (6.67%) maternity cases were in advanced age and 145 (1.11%) were in teen age. The alive newborns which were more in normal reproductive age was 12008 (99.77%) and stillbirth which was more in teen age pregnancy was 4 (2.75%). The low-birth-weight newborns distributed more in teen age pregnancy was 44 (30.34%) and high birth weight newborns distributed more in advanced age pregnancy was 18 (2.04%).

The abnormal birth weight and stillbirths were common in teen age and advanced age pregnancy.