A research project by Kristin Evensen Friis
In Denmark, since 2007, it has been possible for single women to become solo mothers through donor insemination or assisted reproductive technology (ART) in public hospitals. The presence of risk factors in solo mothers (higher maternal age, use of ART, single parenthood, and single children) compared to cohabiting women is not well documented. Further research is necessary to fully comprehend the experiences and outcomes of this population. Research on this relatively new family structure could be instrumental in providing adequate health services to this expanding demographic group of mothers and their children. To our knowledge, there are no large-scale, quantitative studies examining the population of solo mothers and the morbidity of their children.
On this background, the aim of this project is:
- To describe in detail the development in solo motherhood through the period 2000-2022, and characterize socioeconomic parameters and morbidity in solo mothers before childbirth as compared with cohabiting women.
- To assess obstetrical complications in solo mothers and cohabiting mothers.
- To describe sociodemographic changes after delivery in solo mothers and cohabiting mothers.
- To assess morbidity after delivery in solo mothers and cohabiting mothers.
- To investigate child neonatal morbidity in solo mothers and cohabiting mothers.
- To assess postpartum morbidity in children born by solo mothers and by cohabiting mothers.