Impact of Delayed Pregnancy on Fertility and Maternal Health Disparities

Recent research highlights how delaying pregnancy beyond the age of 30 can negatively influence both fertility rates and maternal health outcomes. In Finland, data from 1987 to 2016 shows a rising trend: in 2024, women over 35 accounted for 27.7% of all births, reflecting societal shifts towards later childbearing. However, postponing childbirth poses significant risks, especially for women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Doctoral researcher Zahra Roustaei emphasizes that women should consider the health implications of delayed pregnancies, as it often correlates with decreased fertility, with women over 30 having fewer than two children on average—a rate below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman necessary for population stability.

Age-related maternal health risks are also escalating, with women over 35 experiencing higher rates of obesity and gestational diabetes, conditions that increase pregnancy complications. Socioeconomic disparities exacerbate these risks; unemployed women in this age group face up to 2.3 times higher obesity risk and 1.6 times higher gestational diabetes risk compared to women in higher occupational tiers. Preventable cases of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes are estimated at around 29,151 and 9,045 respectively, if health inequalities were addressed.

Further concerns include mental health, with teenage mothers experiencing the highest risk of perinatal depression, and older women with low socioeconomic status also facing increased risks. These findings raise crucial questions for public health and social policy: how can efforts reduce fertility decline and maternal health disparities simultaneously?

Tackling these challenges requires comprehensive approaches that target social determinants of health and recognize socioeconomic status as a significant risk factor. Policies should aim to create an environment conducive to healthier reproductive choices and outcomes. This research is based on extensive Finnish health registers, encompassing nearly 1.8 million women, underscoring the importance of socioeconomic and age-related factors in maternal health and fertility trends.