Risk factors for adolescent primigravida in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan

Objectives: To study the risk factors for adolescent primigravida in Kaohsiung county, Taiwan. Methods: This is a population survey on primigravida based on household registry to study risk factors affecting pregnancy of 215 women aged <18; 341 women aged 18–19; and 590 women aged 20–34. Results: The mean age of menarche, first intercourse, and first pregnancy, as well as the duration of menarche to the first intercourse increased significantly with the increased age of primigravida (P < 0.001). Adolescent primigravida, when compared to adult primigravida, were less likely to communicate well with their parents or be in a dual parent family (P < 0.05). They were also more likely to have alcoholic fathers, have drinking alcohol and smoking health behavior problems, exhibit poor school performance, have relatives or friends who became pregnant as adolescents, have been raped, and exhibit poorer knowledge of contraception before pregnancy (P < 0.05). Dose-response relationship in the odds ratio was found. Non-dual family, adolescent pregnancy in relatives or friends, smoking before pregnancy, and age of menarche were independent factors in multiple logistic regression on adolescent primigravida. Conclusions: The main risk factors for adolescent primigravida in Kaohsiung county, Taiwan, were family influence, health behavior problems, adolescent pregnancy in relatives or friends, and earlier onset of menarche. The age at which intercourse and smoking start appear to be two crucial factors that can be addressed through education as a means of intervention before pregnancy occurs.