DELAYED CHILDBEARING

Since around 1980, in countries belonging to European union the mean m aternal age at birth increased by 1.5 y (from 27.1 to 28.6). This demo graphic change has important consequences on the health of the mother and of the neonate. Maternal mortality rates, stillbirth rates and fre quency of congenital anomalies are affected. Without improvement in ca re those rates would have increased by 15 to 35% because of the increa se of the mean age at birth. Nevertheless it should be noted that they continue to decrease. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.