Contextualising challenges of reproduction and motherhood in Florence, Italy: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to understand attitudes, behaviours and expectations regarding reproductive planning, infertility and motherhood among women living in Italy.

Methods: Researchers conducted 55 in-depth interviews among 46 reproductive-aged women living in or around Florence, Italy, currently using the Italian health care system, and nine Italian health care professionals. Researchers used an expanded grounded theory approach to understand women's reproductive experiences, with the social-ecological model serving as a conceptual lens for data analyses.

Results: Fertility care inadequacy and financial instability impacted participants' attitudes towards reproduction. Women's shifting roles and reduced marital salience prompted decisions to delay or forgo childbearing. For pregnant women and women with children, perceived postpartum challenges included employment discrimination, childrearing costs and variable paternal support. Some participants discussed increased parental responsibility sharing, but many noted lingering expectations that women prioritise motherhood above other pursuits.

Conclusion: Findings provide insight into Italian women's reproductive attitudes and behaviours and the declining fertility rate in the current economic and social environment. Practical recommendations for policy and socio-cultural interventions should address reproductive barriers such as affordable childcare, improved fertility assistance, maternal employment protection, and better utilization of existing support structures.

摘要

目的：本研究试图了解生活在意大利的妇女对生育计划、不育和母性身份的态度、行为和期望。

方法：研究人员对目前使用意大利卫生保健系统的46名居住在意大利佛罗伦萨或附近的育龄妇女以及9名意大利卫生保健专业人员进行了55次深入访谈。研究人员应用扩展的扎根理论方法来了解妇女的生育经验, 并以社会生态模型作为数据分析的概念透镜。

结果：生育保健不足和经济不稳定影响了参与者对生育的态度。女性角色的转换和婚姻地位的降低促使她们决定推迟或放弃生育。对于孕妇和有孩子的妇女来说, 她们所感受到的产后挑战包括就业歧视、抚养孩子的费用和各种各样的来自孩子父亲支持。一些与会者讨论了增加父母责任分担的问题, 但许多人的期望是, 女性应把做母亲的责任置于其他追求之上。

结论：研究结果为了解意大利妇女的生育态度和行为以及当前经济和社会环境中生育率的下降提供了依据。政策和社会文化干预的实际建议应解决生育障碍, 如负担得起的儿童保育、改进生育援助、保护产妇就业和更好地利用现有支持结构。

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• beliefs
• knowledge
• reproduction
• women’s health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by the Purdue University Office of Programs for Study Abroad, International Programmes (Study Abroad and International Learning Grant and Intercultural Pedagogy Grant).