• Vienna Institute of Demography (Ed.) - Éva Beaujouan - Marie-Caroline Compans - Alice Goisis - Jasmin Passet-Wittig (Guest Eds.)

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026

Special issue: Delayed reproduction

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The Vienna Yearbook of Population Research is an open access journal that features contributions addressing population trends as well as a broad range of theoretical and methodological issues in population research. Besides Research articles and Review articles, the journal includes Data and Trends contributions, which analyse changes in population dynamics or present databases and data infrastructure. It also features Perspectives articles, which focus on ideas, concepts or theories, as well as invited Debates reflecting on selected questions and issues. Since 2008, the volumes have been devoted to selected themes following special calls for thematic issues.

The 2026 volume of the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research brings together a diverse set of contributions examining delayed reproduction as a defining feature of contemporary demographic change. The papers explore how later transitions to parenthood reshape reproductive trajectories, fertility intentions and birth outcomes for individuals and societies. Particular emphasis is placed on heterogeneities and inequalities by educational background, migration status, and place of residence. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches and drawing on data from Europe, the Americas, and Asia, the issue highlights that delayed reproduction is a lasting trend with significant consequences for future fertility and societies more broadly.
Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400
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Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026
ISSN 1728-4414
Print Edition
ISSN 1728-5305
Online Edition
ISBN 978-3-7001-5156-2
Print Edition
ISBN 978-3-7001-5157-9
Online Edition



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Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2,
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400
https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: bestellung.verlag@oeaw.ac.at
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Not all births are equal: Delivery type and fertility intentions by age at first childbirth

    Alessandra Minello, Francesca Tosi, Elena Vettoretto, Chiara Ludovica Comolli, Gianpiero Dalla-Zuanna, Livia Elisa Ortensi

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026, pp. , 2026/08/19

Special issue: Delayed reproduction

doi: 10.1553/p-9mzp-nm56


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doi:10.1553/p-9mzp-nm56


Abstract

As maternal age at first birth continues to rise in Italy, this study investigates whether and how the mode of delivery at first birth is associated with subsequent fertility intentions, with a specific focus on differences by maternal age at childbirth. Using weighted data from the Fertility Over Forties survey (2024) on 2375 Italian mothers with one child, we estimate predicted fertility intentions by age at first childbirth (under and over age 35), accounting for delivery type and other characteristics of the delivery. Results show that the mode of delivery at first birth is significantly associated with fertility intentions, with more medicalised or interventional deliveries generally linked to lower intended fertility. At the same time, a strong age gradient emerges: mothers aged 35 and older report consistently lower fertility intentions across all delivery types. Differences across delivery modes within age groups are comparatively modest, and we do not find clear evidence that the association between delivery type and fertility intentions varies substantially by maternal age or healthcare setting. We discuss the implications of these results in light of the recent literature on reproductive careers and maternal age and call for greater attention to mothers’ birth experiences and well-being in demographic research.

Keywords: Fertility intentions • Delivery type • Maternal age • Reproductive career

Published Online: 2026/08/19

Object Identifier: 0xc1aa5572 0x0041e526

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Rights: © The Author(s), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 2026. This article/book is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows the sharing, use and adaptation in any medium, provided that the user gives appropriate credit, provides a link to the license, and indicates if changes were made.