Less women become mothers after 35
By Narmina Mammadova
Unfortunately, life is arranged in such a way that a person often has to choose. Direct path leading to the goal does not exist. Sometimes it requires some sacrifices from us.
In today fast-developing world, many women seek to postpone childbearing for later in life due to variety of reasons. The reasons might include pursuing academic degrees, building career, opening business, or marrying late.
The question of "family or career" most acutely confronts women.
It is she who is considered the keeper of the home, and if the hearth is left unattended because of her career, then she has to make a choice.
The choice is also complicated because of the opinion of others. As a rule, it is unequivocal. Even child’s sneeze will be perceived by the household as a result of the decision of the mother to build a career. Grandmothers as grandmothers and nannies as nannies, but no one can replace mother.
Most women choose a family without thinking much. But there are those who try to solve the problem in some way, because they have certain ambitions and want financial independence. This category can be understood as well.
Azerbaijan in recent years has seen a decrease in the number of women who become mothers after 35-40 years compared with the Soviet period.
In the 1970s, women over 40 became mothers of 6,000-8,000 out of 150,000-180,000 newborns in the country.
For example, in 1970, women of 40-44 years old became mothers of 8,266 out of 150,976 babies in Azerbaijan, in 1975 – of 6,777 babies out of 141,857, and last year –of 1,299 babies only.
Despite the increase in the birth rate over the past 17 years, the number of women becoming mothers after 35 years went down.
This might also be connected with the fear of bearing unhealthy child in such an age.
Meanwhile, in 2000, women aged 35-39 gave birth to 8,154 babies, in 2005 – to 7,653, in 2010 – to 6,958, in 2013 – to 7,280, in 2014 – to 7,027, in 2015 – to 7,231, in 2016 – to 7,233, and in 2017 – to 6,737 newborns.
The birth rate in Azerbaijan has also decreased in the past years.
The demographic policy of the state is an important tool for regulating the population. In some countries there is a real catastrophe with fertility, but Azerbaijan has never experienced such a problem. However, the recent figures show that there is a slight decrease in the birth rate. In 2015, 172,671 babies were born in Azerbaijan, in 2016, this figure amounted to 160,004, and in 2017, the indicator fell to 144,041.
According to the forecasts of the United Nations Population Fund, until 2025–2030, population growth will be observed in Azerbaijan. It will reach 11 million, but after that, there will be a period of demographic stagnation.
Also, boys are born by 10-11 percent more often than girls in the country. Thus, if not paying attention to this issue, a gender imbalance in a couple of decades can turn into a real demographic problem for Azerbaijan.
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