Abstract
Pregnant adolescents working in agricultural settings face several obstacles due to their age, educational limitations, and harsh working conditions, which may increase pregnancy-related risks. This situation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive support strategies that target these risk factors, ultimately leading to a more favorable outlook for young mothers and their children. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors mainly associated with complications in pregnant working adolescents from 2018 to 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative experimental study was conducted on 250 working and non-working pregnant adolescents living in the agricultural fields of Vizcaino, Baja California Sur. Data were collected through personal interviews, group discussions, and documentary reviews. RESULTS: The general sociodemographic data revealed a mean age of 17 years, with an age range of 14 to 19 years. Sixty-four percent of the patients reported being in a couple, and 23% were single. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.8 ± 5.5. Regarding education, 40% of the participants reported primary education as their highest level, followed by 29% who had completed secondary education. Elementary education was identified as a risk factor related to pregnancy complications (RR 37.931, CI 8.379-171.709). A significant 65.2% of the respondents working as agricultural laborers reported working between 6 and 8 hours daily, including 1 hour for meals. This work pattern was also linked to an increased risk of pregnancy complications (RR 7.357, CI 2.715-19.938). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant public health problem among pregnant adolescent women of farm communities, with complications observed in more than a third of the patients.