Date of Completion

Winter 1-2-2023

Thesis Advisor(s)

Sharon Casavant

Honors Major

Individualized Major

Disciplines

Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

To explore the association between maternal age and obstetric and neonatal outcomes with a focus on adolescent women between the age of 18 to 21 years. Secondary Analysis of RO1 cohort study. Maternity departments of six hospitals in Connecticut - Hartford Hospital, UConn John Dempsey Hospital, Saint Francis Hospital, Manchester Memorial Hospital, William W. Backus Hospital, or other - with relation to The University of Connecticut or Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The primary outcomes were maternal and neonatal outcomes measured in addition to neonatal neurodevelopment. Neonates born to adolescent mothers exhibited lower birth weight (p=0.004). Based on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, neonates born to adolescent mothers exhibited developmental delays in expressive language at 8-12 months (p=0.023) and receptive language at 18-24 months (p=0.057). Neonates experienced motor delays at the 8–12-month mark (p=0.03). Infants born to adolescent mothers between the age of 18 to 22 years of age may weigh less at birth and exhibit developmental delays in language and motor skills. The results from this study support the findings in the literature regarding teenage mothers and infant neurodevelopment. Similar to mothers of advanced maternal age, there may be a reason to consider adolescent mothers at high risk for neonatal outcomes if there is a lack of parenting knowledge or prenatal care (Ryan-Krause et al., 2009). Research should continue to examine potential interventions - knowledge of child development and appropriate parenting techniques - to mitigate the developmental outcomes of children of adolescent mothers.

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