Maternal and neonatal outcomes among adolescent mothers in a high-risk NICU population in Ecuador

In this high-risk NICU population, adolescent mothers experienced greater socioeconomic disadvantage, inadequate prenatal care, and higher rates of obstetric intervention, which were associated with poorer neonatal indicators. Adverse outcomes were primarily driven by clinical and structural factors-particularly low birth weight and pulmonary hypertension-rather than maternal age itself. These findings highlight the need for targeted improvements in prenatal care and social support for adolescent mothers within high-risk clinical settings.