Abstract
Study Objective
Few studies have investigated the risky health behaviors and psychosocial characteristics
of teenage mothers in countries with a low teenage birth rate, like Japan. We examined
the differences in maternal prenatal risky health behaviors and psychosocial characteristics,
and birth weight of infants between teenage and adult mothers.
Design, Setting, Participants, Interventions, and Main Outcome Measures
We identified 1159 teenage (age younger than 20 years) and 73,547 adult mothers (20-34 years)
who participated a nationwide birth cohort study between 2011 and 2014. Behavioral
and psychosocial characteristics were ascertained using questionnaires during pregnancy.
Birth weight of infants was verified through medical records. Univariate and multivariable
logistic regression were used to assess the association of teenage motherhood and
birth weight of infants with parity, marital status, household income, maternal education,
job status, preconception body mass index, gestational weight gain, psychological
distress, and smoking status.
Results
Teenage mothers were significantly more likely to smoke and have psychological distress
and less likely to use alcohol than adult mothers (9.9% vs 4.6%, P < .001; 8.9% vs 3.4%, P < .001; 1.3% vs 2.5%, P < .001, respectively). No association was found between teenage motherhood and low
birth weight in infants (odds ratio 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.32). Further,
no association was found after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusion
A substantially greater number of Japanese teenage mothers smoked and experienced
severe psychological distress than adult mothers. Our findings will be useful for
future research and for developing effective policies and programs for teenage mothers
and their children.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 02, 2018
Footnotes
The authors indicate no conflicts of interest.
Members of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) as of 2017 (principal investigator, Toshihiro Kawamoto): Reiko Kishi (Hokkaido Regional Center for JECS, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan); Nobuo Yaegashi (Miyagi Regional Center for JECS, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan); Koichi Hashimoto (Fukushima Regional Center for JECS, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan); Chisato Mori (Chiba Regional Center for JECS, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan); Shuichi Ito (Kanagawa Regional Center for JECS, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan); Zentaro Yamagata (Koshin Regional Center for JECS, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan); Hidekuni Inadera (Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan); Michihiro Kamijima (Aichi Regional Center for JECS, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan); Takeo Nakayama (Kyoto Regional Center for JECS, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan); Hiroyasu Iso (Osaka Regional Center for JECS, Osaka University, Suita, Japan); Masayuki Shima (Hyogo Regional Center for JECS, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan); Yasuaki Hirooka (Tottori Regional Center for JECS, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan); Narufumi Suganuma (Kochi Regional Center for JECS, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan); Koichi Kusuhara (Fukuoka Regional Center for JECS, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan); and Takahiko Katoh (South Kyushu/Okinawa Regional Center for JECS, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan).
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc.
