Objectives: To explore older (35 years +) primigravid women's knowledge of the risks of delayed childbearing and to identify the characteristics of those with limited knowledge.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 675 primigravid women in Tehran, Iran, using a cluster random sampling method at the first prenatal visit. A validated questionnaire assessed the women's awareness of delayed-childbearing risks.
Results: Women variously identified conception difficulties, gestational diabetes, hypertension, multiple birth, caesarean section, preterm delivery, stillbirth, Down's syndrome, congenital abnormality, and low birth weight, as associated with delayed childbearing. Awareness of infant risks ranged between 10 and 72%. Awareness of maternal risks were independently related to the women's educational levels (odds ratio [OR]: 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-3.38), planned pregnancy (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.25-2.78) and maternal age ≥ 40 (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.14-2.53). Women aware of infant risks were significantly likely to be aged ≥ 40 (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 0.01-5.12), have post-graduate education (OR: 2; 95% CI: 1.90-4.42), and have a planned pregnancy (OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.03-5.12).
Conclusion: Women are largely unaware of the potential complications of delayed childbirth. Understanding the risks is important for reproductive healthcare providers and policy makers in providing appropriate information to enable women to make informed decisions on the timing of conception.