Prevalence of chronic diseases in young postpartum women Prevalencia de enfermedades cronicas en puerperas jovenes.

Abstract

Five hundred women 20 to 29 years of age were evaluated 48 hr after delivery to detect the presence of chronic diseases. An overall prevalence of 14.4% was found. Circulatory, osteo muscular, connective tissue and endocrine, metabolic and immune related disorders constituted the main groups of diseases detected. Leading diagnosis were hypertension, scoliosis, gallstones and goiter. No differences were found in type of delivery when comparing healthy and chronic disease affected women. Chronic disease in younger females should be further studied in order to avoid complications, sequelae and to improve reproductive conditions in this population.