Teen pregnancy in migrants: socioeconomic, gynecobstetric, and neonatal variables

Identify and correlate characteristics of adolescent mothers in a border city of Mexico with their migratory status. We surveyed post partum adolescent mothers in the discharge rooms of two public hospitals in Tijuana, Mexico. We assessed obstetric, gynecologic, socioeconomic and neonatal variables. Mothers living fewer than 5 years in the area were designated as 'migrant.' 324 adolescent mothers were identified; 86% had healthy babies; 27% had previous pregnancies; age of onset of sexual activity was 15.5 +/- 1.4 years. 115 (36%) were identified as 'migrant,' among whom we found they had interrupted their studies (24% vs. 33%; OR 2.62: CI 95% 1.39-4.94), had a higher incidence of failure to use contraception (74% vs. 62%; OR 1.79: C.I. 95% 1.07-3.01) and a lower incidence of prenatal care (28% vs. 38%; OR 1.8: C.I. 95% 1.04-3.15). A larger percentage of migrant adolescents already lived with their partner (39% vs. 24%; OR 2.00: C.I. 95% 1.21-3.30) and expressed a desire to become pregnant (55% vs. 37%; OR 2.10: C.I. 95% 1.31-3.37). The observed association persisted in multivariate analysis. We did not observe differences between other ob-gyn and neonatal variables. Being a female migrant should be considered a risk factor in the reproductive health of adolescent mothers.