Work

Educational differences in the impact of maternal age on perinatal health in Spain: A population-based study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Advanced maternal age has been linked to unfavourable birth outcomes, yet uncertainties regarding the generalisability of these associations remain. Socioeconomic resources protect perinatal health, which raises the question of potential mitigation of age effects. Using register data from the Spanish Birth Statistics (2007–2021), this study explores how a wide range of adverse perinatal outcomes relate to mothers’ age and education and their interaction. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) incremental effects of maternal age on mostoutcomes areobserved. Maternal university-level education and, to a lesser extent, medium-level education play a protective role translating into a lower baseline probability of most events already at ages 25 to 29, and, generally, into lower figures across the age distribution. Nevertheless, effects are frequently small and sometimes restricted to specific combinations of education and age, which suggests that the perinatal health impact of maternal ageing should not be underplayed even amongmoreadvantagedpopulation strata.

Source: Vienna Yearbook of Population Research

DOI: 10.1553/p-67f8-9f5p

Author: Marta Seiz

Institutions: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Economía, Geografía y Demografía

Language: English

Topic: Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación