The Trend in Delayed Childbearing Age and Its Potential Im-pact on Adverse Maternal-Perinatal Outcomes in Developed and  Developing Countries: A Narrative Review

Xiaoli  Ding; Hui Li; Qiang  Yang; . Nawsherwan

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i1.17570

Xiaoli Ding Department of Gynecology, Taixing People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
Hui Li Department of Medicine, Taixing People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
Qiang Yang Department of Gynecology, Taixing People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
. Nawsherwan Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i1.17570

Keywords: Delayed childbearing age; Fertility rate; Education; Occupation; Pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Due to the significant advancement of modern societies, higher education, career growth, and economic independence, more young girls are likely to delay childbearing beyond 30 years of age. The trend of delayed childbearing is more pronounced in industrialized countries but is also becoming common in emerging countries. Delayed childbearing has been linked with several adverse maternal-perinatal outcomes, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abnormal placentation, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm births, low birthweight, perinatal mortality, congenital birth defects, and chromosomal abnormalities. In this review, we have highlighted the trend of delayed childbearing age, the role of education and employment in delayed childbearing age, and its potential impact on adverse maternal-perinatal outcomes in developed and developing countries.