Factors of the reproductive life plan for married and employed Japanese women considering having children

BACKGROUND: Women's delayed childbearing results in negative effects on maternal health and may restrict women from achieving their reproductive goals. By the age of 30 years, Japanese women are typically in the process of acquiring a more autonomous and fulfilling work status. Conversely, this is also the time when women experience a decline in fertility. Therefore, it is necessary to explore how reproductive and career visions affect intentions and behaviors toward the Reproductive Life Plan (RLP) to build support for achieving their reproductive goals. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between RLP and the reproductive and career visions of employed, married, and childless Japanese women in their 30s. METHODS: We administered a questionnaire comprising 29 items on RLP (i.e., pregnancy timing considerations and attitudes favoring pregnancy delay), reproductive and career visions, and participants' demographics. A multi-logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing "absence of pregnancy timing consideration" and "attitude favoring pregnancy delay." RESULTS: Approximately half of the participants had completed a university education, most of them were in non-management positions, and 36.1% were working 40 h or more per week. The average number of desired children was 1.7 ± 0.6. The factor "absence of pregnancy timing consideration" was associated with education, marriage duration, infertility concerns, self-perceived pregnancy probability, the number of desired children, and the intention to return to work after delivery. "Attitude favoring pregnancy delay" was associated with infertility concerns, scores of fertility knowledge, the interval between the ideal age for the first pregnancy and current age, the number of desired children, and working more than 40 h per week. CONCLUSION: Absence of pregnancy timing consideration" and "Attitude favoring pregnancy delay" were associated with different factors. Developing support systems for RLP, including the development of reproductive and career visions, will help prevent delayed childbearing among employed, married, and childless Japanese women in their 30s.