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Social determinants of health

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2025)

Return to work, family functionality, and social support in women who experienced pregnancy after age 35 in Antioquia, Colombia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22267/rus.252701.340
Submitted
February 22, 2024
Published
2025-02-12

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy after the age of 35 is an increasingly common trend in the contemporary world; however, aspects such as returning to work and its relationship with family functionality and social support remain underexplored. Objective: To assess work reentry, family functionality, and social support in women who experienced pregnancy after the age of 35 in Medellín and the metropolitan area of Antioquia, Colombia. Materials and methods: A descriptive study measuring sociodemographic characteristics, social support, family functionality, and satisfaction with work reentry following pregnancy in 106 women from the department of Antioquia, Colombia. Results: Of the participants, 82.1 % had an education level higher than secondary school, and over half belonged to the upper-middle class. No participant with normal family functionality reported unsatisfactory work reentry, and approximately 80 % of these women were still employed. 75 % of the participants reported not experiencing postpartum depression; however, only 43.8 % self-reported normal family functionality. Conclusion: For a pregnant woman over 35 years of age, a functional family and a positive perception of social support play a beneficial role in work reentry.

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