Análise comparativa das gesta？？es e da frequência de prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascer entre filhos de m？es adolescentes e adultas

objective: to perform a comparative analysis between the frequency of prematurity and low birth weight among newborns of adolescent and adult mothers, and to evaluate selected maternal data. methods: a comparative cohort study involving 703 pregnant women and their newborns at a public hospital in the city of s？o paulo (270 mothers aged 10-19 years, and 433 aged 20-35 years), during the period from march to august 2003. results: the birth of premature or low birth weight children was not prominent in any of the age groups; the small differences found were not statistically significant. however, significant differences were found between the two age groups in the items: number of gestations, with a predominance of first pregnancies among adolescents (70.3%), and a greater number of second or third pregnancies among adults (26.9 and 53.3%, respectively); in the prenatal period, fewer clinic visits among adolescents and more visits among adults (45.1% and 63.3%, respectively). conclusion: the group of pregnant adolescents in the population studied did not differ from the group of adults as to frequency of prematurity and low birth weight. among adolescents, there was a significantly higher number of primiparous patients compared to adults, and a lower number of prenatal visits.