Maternal Age and the Risk of Low Birth Weight and Preterm Delivery: A Pan-Nordic Comparison

Siddartha Aradhya , Lund University
Alice Goisis, University College London
Øystein Kravdal, University of Oslo
Mikko Myrskyla, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Anna Tegunimataka, Lund University
Kieron Barclay, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research

In recent decades, the postponement of childbearing has been one of the most prominent demographic developments in high-income countries. In 2016, the mean maternal age at childbearing was above 30 in several highly developed countries. Since advanced maternal age at birth may reflect multiple biological, health, and social processes that influence the birth outcomes of children, there has been increased concern that this trend may be associated with increasing negative health consequences among children. This study investigates the relationship between maternal age and the risk of low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

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 Presented in Session 107. Causes of Adverse Birth Outcomes