The Association Between Adequate Prenatal Care and Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Teenage Pregnancies: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine whether inadequate prenatal care affect the risk of severe maternal morbidity in teenage pregnancies. METHODS: We included 23,202 delivery cases among adolescent mothers aged between 13 and 19 years old with ≥ 37 weeks' gestational age. Data were derived from the National Health Insurance Service National Delivery Cohort in Korea between 2003 and 2018. We used a generalized estimating equation model while adjusting for numerous covariates to determine the adjusted relative risk (RR) associated with severe maternal morbidity. The main outcome measures were severe maternal morbidity and the Kessner Adequacy of Prenatal Care Index. RESULTS: Severe maternal morbidity occurred in 723 (3.1%) of the 23,202 investigated delivery cases. The risk of severe maternal morbidity was 1.8-fold higher among adolescent mothers who had received inadequate prenatal care (RR, 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–2.37) and 1.6-fold higher among those who had received intermediate prenatal care (RR, 1.59, 95% CI, 1.33–1.87) compared to those with adequate prenatal care. Synergistic effects of inadequate prenatal care and maternal comorbidities affected severe maternal morbidity. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that inadequate prenatal care is associated with increased risk of severe maternal morbidity among pregnant teenagers. Notably, maternal comorbidity and inadequate prenatal care produced synergistic effects on severe maternal morbidity. Public health policy makers should focus on the development and implementation of programs to ensure that adequate prenatal care and financial/healthcare support is provided to teenage mothers during their pregnancies.