OBJECTIVES: to determine maternal age influence on birthweight and other possible associated factors. METHOD: this study is a cohort retrospective study performed in three maternity hospitals in the city of Maceió. The sample consisted of 500 puerperal mothers (250 adolescents and 250 within the age span of 20 to 30 years old) and their newborns. RESULTS: pregnancy during adolescence was significantly associated to primiparity, to low education level, inadequate prenatal care, low per capita income, and inadequate maternal nutrition. An average birthweight difference of 203g plus in newborns of young adult mothers was determined when compared to mothers with ages ranging from 13 to 15 years old, although not significant (p=0.14). Multiple linear regression did not determine significant variation of mother's age in birthweight, nevertheless, variables with significant impact were: maternal nutritional status, prenatal care and infant's gender. CONCLUSIONS: although adolescent mothers have more unfavorable social and economic conditions as compared to young adult mothers, maternal age did not significantly influence birthweight.
Birthweight; Pregnancy in adolescence; Infant; low birth weight; Maternal nutrition; Prematurity
