title: Impact of Childbearing Decisions on Family Size of Korean Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects women in their reproductive years and has a significant impact on childbearing. We investigated the influence of personal decision on family size among Korean women with SLE and factors that affect the decisions. A case-control study comparing childbearing history and decisions of 112 SLE patients and 135 controls was performed. Women with SLE participating in the Network for Lupus Clinical Research in South Korea and matching controls between ages of 18-45, who are/were married or living with a partner were included. Data regarding socio-demographics, reproductive history, and childbearing decisions were collected through a survey using a standardized questionnaire and medical record review. More women with SLE reported at least one pregnancy (85.7% vs. 71.9%, P = 0.009) or at least one live birth (85.7% vs. 71.9%, P = 0.003) compared with controls. Mean number of pregnancies was significantly higher (2.4 ± 1.6 vs. 1.4 ± 1.3, P < 0.001), and mean number of live births was significantly lower in women with SLE (1.2 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.8, P < 0.001). Significantly more women with SLE made the decision not to have children compared with controls (54.5% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.031), and health-related concerns were the major cause of the decision. Other socio-demographic factors did not influence the decision to limit childbearing in SLE women. The disease-related concerns had significant impact on family size and childbearing decisions among Korean women with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: In Je
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5286-0593
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea .
authors.forename: Hyoun-Ah
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2609-3367
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea .
authors.forename: Chang-Hee
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6156-393X
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Chonnam National University Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju, Korea .
authors.forename: Yong-Wook
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6937-7119
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Hye-Soon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8535-0442
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4699-9350
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Sang-Cheol
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4658-1093
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea .
authors.forename: Young Mo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7409-0729
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea .
authors.forename: Won Kyung
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6014-8854
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Hyesook
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9359-6522
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Jisoo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6279-7025
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childbearing Decisions; Family Size; Korean; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus