Slight rise in teenage pregnancies

The rate of teenage pregnancies remained high last year, with 277 babies born to young mothers out of a total of 4,180 total births.

The number of births from teenage pregnancies totalled 276 in 2008, according to the national obstetrics information system.

In 2003, there were 221 such births, rising to 222 in 2004, 228 in 2005, 237 in 2006 and 247 in 2007.

The system also includes information on the impact of the influenza pandemic on expectant mothers. With vaccination unavailable in 2009, doctors advised pregnant women with flu-related symptoms to undergo the necessary tests and receive antiviral treatment if found positive. Of the 4,112 mothers who gave birth last year, only 10 were infected, with seven of them taking medication. All gave birth to healthy babies. Of these, 52.1 per cent were boys and 47.9 per cent girls.

Overall, the number of births dropped by 1.1 per cent, to 4,180 from 4,228, 99.8 per cent of them in hospitals: 3,937 were born in Malta and 243 in Gozo.

Last year, 28 babies were stillborn. This is the third highest figure in the past 10 years with the first being 33 in 1999, followed by 29 in 2008. Another 18 babies died in as many cases of neonatal deaths.

Meanwhile, the 4,180 deliveries, included triplets and 31 twins.

Sixty-five per cent of mothers gave birth naturally and 35 per cent were born by an emergency or elective Caesarean, or assisted delivery, which includes forceps.