TITLE:
Adolescent Pregnancy Complications in Northern Cameroon: Frequency, Clinical Features, and Maternal Mortality in 604 Cases
AUTHORS:
Rakya Inna, Winnie Awala Onana, Jules Anthony Mbarga, Clovis Ourtchingh, Salamatou Souley, Stéphane Aoudi, Ache Isseini, Chantal Didjo’o, Bayero Khadidja, Claude Noa Ndoua
KEYWORDS:
Adolescent Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Eclampsia, Maternal Mortality, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.5,
May
19,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Complications of pregnancy among adolescents represent a major public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, where adolescent mothers face heightened risks of eclampsia, anemia, hemorrhage and maternal death. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of pregnancy complications among adolescents in Garoua, the northern part of Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study with retrospective data collection was conducted from January to December 2023 in 8 health facilities in Garoua. All parturients aged 10 - 19 years were included; data were analysed using EPI INFO 3.5.3. Results: Out of 3031 total deliveries, 993 (32.76%) were adolescent deliveries (i.e., 32.76% of all deliveries involved adolescents aged 10 - 19 years); 604 complete files were analysed. Mean age was 17.73 ± 1.21 years. Only 17.22% had ≥4 antenatal care visits. Clinical complications (defined as any obstetric condition requiring medical intervention beyond routine care) included hypertension (6.29%), neurological signs (3.31%), vaginal bleeding (3.48%), and anaemia (6.46%). Meconium-stained amniotic fluid was present in 25.55%. Maternal mortality was 3.31%, eclampsia being the leading cause (50%). Conclusion: Pregnancy complications among adolescents in Garoua are frequent and often severe. Eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal death. Low antenatal care attendance, early marriage, and poverty are the main contextual contributors frequently co-occurring with adolescent pregnancy in this setting; coordinated interventions addressing these factors are needed.