Burden and Delivery Outcomes Among Adolescent Mothers at a Tertiary Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis

Background Adolescent pregnancy remains a significant public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, contributing substantially to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Understanding its burden and outcomes is crucial for improving care and guiding interventions.  Objective To determine the burden and delivery outcomes among adolescent mothers managed at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, over a 5-year period, and to compare these outcomes with those of older mothers.  Methods A retrospective review of delivery records at EKSUTH from 2020 to 2025 was conducted. Data were extracted from the labour ward register and analyzed with SPSS using descriptive and comparative statistics. Adolescent mothers were defined as those aged 10–19 years. Variables included sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric profile, mode of delivery, maternal complication, and perinatal outcomes such as birth weight, gestational age, APGAR scores, and stillbirths. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.  Results Of 5,731 deliveries during the study period, 5,613 (97.9%) had complete data for analysis out of which Eighty-five (1.5%) were adolescent mothers. Most adolescents were primigravidae (83.5%), nulliparous (91.8%), and unbooked (64.7%). Vaginal delivery was the predominant mode of delivery (65.9%). Primary postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 3.5% of cases, with one maternal death recorded accounting for 1.18%. The mean birth weight of babies of adolescent mothers was 2.69kg with stillbirths occurring in 8.2% of the deliveries. Although neonatal mortality was almost twice as high in adolescent mothers (4.2%), the difference did not reach statistical significance. The maternal outcomes were comparable. Twin gestations represented 3.5% of cases, and no triplets were recorded.  Conclusion Adolescent pregnancies at EKSUTH constitute a small but important proportion of deliveries, with generally favorable maternal but poorer perinatal outcomes. Strengthening adolescent reproductive health education, improving antenatal care access, and providing adolescent-friendly obstetric services are essential to mitigate these risks and enhance outcomes.