Maternal Age Demographic Trends in Greece from 1980 to 2008

OBJECTIVE: To identify maternal age trends in Greece over a 29-year period from 1980 to 2008. STUDY DESIGN: Data concerning live births after 24 gestational weeks was collected from the Hellenic Vital Statistics records and analyzed. Mothers were categorized into age groups. Data was further sorted according to birth in urban or non-urban areas, and the relative contribution of each group was estimated. RESULTS: In contrast to 1980, when the most prevalent maternal age group was 20-24 years, in 1990 the prevalent maternal age group was 25-29 years. In 2008 the prevalent maternal age group shifted to 30-34 years of age. Adolescent births do not pose a major problem in Greece and present a steadily declining trend throughout the years studied. Urban population exhibited an earlier and more intense shift towards older maternal ages. Demand for assisted reproductive technology methods showed an increase among women 40 years of age. CONCLUSION: Maternal age patterns in Greece over the past 3 decades are described. The differences in birth patterns in women giving birth in urban areas are identified and compared to birth patterns in the rest of the country. The adolescent pregnancy rate in Greece was found to be very low.