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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Perceptions of the ideal age for pregnancy in Vizianagaram: A comparative study of scientific evidence and public opinion
Gopal Anapana, Ramakrishna S, Kola Ramalakshmi, Reddi Devi Bharathi, Lakkoju Jeevana, Domana Karuna, Mahanthi Pallavi, Muppana Sravani and Pilaka Rama Krishna
Year : 2025 | Volume: 10 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 146-156
Received on: 09/08/2025
Revised on: 19/08/2025
Accepted on: 11/09/2025
Published on: 30/09/2025
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Gopal Anapana, Ramakrishna S, Kola Ramalakshmi, Reddi Devi Bharathi, Lakkoju Jeevana, Domana Karuna, Mahanthi Pallavi, Muppana Sravani and Pilaka Rama Krishna( 2025).
Perceptions of the ideal age for pregnancy in Vizianagaram: A comparative study of scientific evidence and public opinion
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 10( 5), 146-156.
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Abstract
The biologically optimal age for pregnancy, widely recognized as 20–30 years, is linked to peak fertility and reduced maternal–neonatal risk, yet public perceptions are strongly shaped by sociocultural norms, educational exposure, family expectations, and career priorities. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study, conducted between July and December 2024 with 264 participants in Vizianagaram, examined awareness, beliefs, and knowledge of the ideal age for pregnancy in comparison with scientific evidence. The findings revealed that before exposure to scientific information, only 60.2% of the participants identified early-to-mid-twenties as the optimal window, but this percentage increased significantly after the intervention (t(264) = 42.81, p < .001). Awareness of fertility decline with age was reported by 71.2%, although only 14.4% recognized both early and late pregnancy risks. Internet and social media (26.1%) emerged as the most common information sources, surpassing schools and healthcare professionals, and younger adults (18–25 years) demonstrated significantly higher awareness levels (F(3, 260) = 157.44, p < .001). Thematic analysis highlighted career goals, family pressure, lack of awareness, and media portrayals as the dominant influences shaping perceptions. These results suggest that while public opinion in semiurban India often aligns with medical consensus, persistent misconceptions about fertility decline and reliance on assisted reproductive technologies indicate the need for culturally sensitive, demographically tailored educational strategies to support informed reproductive decision-making.
Keywords
Ideal pregnancy age, Fertility awareness, Vizianagaram, Reproductive Health Education, Maternal age.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
