Reproductive Profile in Adolescent and Adult Parturient Women of Low Income

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective: To evaluate the reproductive profile in the adult and adolescent population in their first pregnancy. Material and Methods: A prospective study by direct interview of 1,000 parturient women, hospitalized in the puerperium wards at Maternidade Cândida Vargas, (João Pessoa – Paraíba – Brazil), in the period from August, 2003 to July, 2004. The sample was stratified into two groups, according to the maternal age group in the first pregnancy: a group of adolescents (10 to 20 years old) and a group of adults (over 20 years old). The variables analyzed were: The age of the occurrence of menarche, the first sexual relation and the first pregnancy. The data were tabled and submitted to the statistical descriptive and inferential analysis. Results: From the total of 1,000 parturient women interviewed, 66,8% had become pregnant for the first time during adolescence and 33,2% at the age of 21 or over. The average menarche ages of the total, adolescent and adult populations, were 12,7 years old, 12,6 years old and 13 years old, respectively. The first sexual relation occurred more precociously in the group of adolescents, when the average age was 15,5 years old, in the group of adults, the average was 20,4 years old. The average age during the first pregnancy was 17 years old in the group of adolescents and 24,8 years old in the group of adults. Conclusions: The first pregnancy occurred predominantly during adolescence (66, 8%). The precocity of sexual initiation and first pregnancy, among adolescents, reinforces the necessity for the urgent establishment of public policies in Brazil, mainly focusing on the reproductive education of the low-income population. DESCRIPTORS Adolescence. Menarche. Sexuality. Demography.