# Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Very Young Adolescent Pregnancies: A Single-Centre Retrospective Observational Study in Brașov, Romania

## TL;DR

This study examines the health risks for mothers and babies in very young pregnancies in Romania, finding high rates of complications and poor outcomes.

## Contribution

The study provides descriptive insights into maternal and neonatal outcomes specific to very young adolescents in a Romanian setting.

## Key findings

- Very young adolescents had high rates of anemia, postpartum hemorrhage, and preterm births.
- Neonates of 12–14-year-olds had significantly lower APGAR scores and more low birth weights.
- Rural adolescents faced higher anemia rates and inadequate prenatal care compared to urban counterparts.

## Abstract

Background: Adolescent pregnancies remain associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity. This study describes the clinical and demographic characteristics of very young pregnant adolescents in Brașov County, Romania. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 1322 singleton deliveries to adolescents aged 12–16 years at Clinical Hospital “Dr. I.A. Sbârcea”, Brașov (2018–2024). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and correlation analyses were performed. No multivariable adjustment was applied. Results: Mean maternal age was 15.3 ± 0.8 years; 82.8% were from rural areas; 76% were primigravida. Cesarean section rate was 31.5%. Maternal complications included anemia (45%), postpartum hemorrhage (29.4%), preeclampsia (8%), and urogenital infections (28%). Among neonates, 33.7% had low birth weight, 18% were preterm, and 32.4% had APGAR scores < 7 at 1 min. Adolescents aged 12–14 years had lower postpartum hemoglobin (8.72 vs. 10.42 g/dL, p < 0.001) and higher rates of APGAR < 7 at 1 min (51.4% vs. 28.8%, p < 0.001) compared to those aged 15–16 years. Rural residence was associated with higher anemia rates (46.8% vs. 36.4%, p = 0.003) and inadequate prenatal care (40.0% vs. 23.7%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This single-centre cohort shows high rates of obstetric complications and adverse neonatal outcomes among very young adolescents, with observed differences by age and residence. These descriptive findings may inform further research into risk factors and preventive interventions for adolescent pregnancies in Romania.