Objective: To determine the relationship between maternal age and pregnancy and perinatal outcomes..
Material and Methods: The sample comprised primiparous women who came to deliver at Pattani Hospital between 1^stOctober 1996 to 30^thSeptember 2004. Maternal age was grouped as: < 20, 20-34 and ≥35 years. Pregnancy and perinataloutcomes were determined. The 20-34 years age group was used as the reference age.
Results: A total of 7,394 primiparous women were grouped into 3 age groups. 1,562 were age < 20 years, 5,568 were age 20-34 years and 264 were age ≥ 35 years. Preterm labour (≤ 37 weeks), hypertensive in pregnancy, cesarean section and fetal macrosomia (≥ 4,000 grams) were statistically significantly different accross age groups. Low birthweight (< 2,500 grams), very low birthweight (< 1,500 grams), low Apgar score (< 7) at 1 minute and stillbirth were not statistically significantly different. After adjustment using multiple logistic regression analysis, age group < 20 years had an increased risk of preterm labour (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08-1.49), and decreased risk of cesarean section (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.30-0.40), whereas age group ≥35 years had increased risks of antepartum hemorrhage (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.21-5.36) and cesarean section (RR 5.56, 95% CI 4.15–7.45).
Conclusion: Elderly gravida (≥ 35years) have a high incidence of antepartum hemorrhage and cesarean section. Teenage pregnancies (< 20years) have high incidence of preterm labour and low incidence of cesarean section.