Framing reproductive narratives
Date
2026
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Abstract
Childlessness is an increasingly visible phenomenon. Once predominantly associ
ated with high-income settings, it now spans diverse cultural, economic, and political
contexts, including the Global South. Among recent demographic shifts, childless
ness has emerged as one of the most ideologically charged and widely debated
topics in public discourse, particularly through media narratives. Although media
are often overlooked in mainstream public health models, they play critical roles as
structural and intermediary determinants of health - shaping issue framing, amplifying
voices, and legitimizing solutions. Yet little is known about how childlessness is repre
sented in global media, especially outside the Global North and in the post- pandemic
era. This study analysed news media representations of childlessness from a public
health perspective, drawing on 131 news articles from 101 outlets across 86 coun
tries (2015–2025). Articles were identified through systematic keyword searches in
English and 12 additional languages, screened for relevance, and analysed the
matically using Braun and Clarke’s inductive method. Our approach was discourse-
sensitive, drawing on a social constructionist lens and informed by framing theories
and reproductive justice. Five themes were identified: The guinea pig of the state;
Crazy rich selfish animal lovers; No baby, no cry; Bringing children into a broken
world; and Winter regret and loneliness. These narratives operate across structural,
intermediary, and individual levels, fulfilling four discursive functions: politicising,
moralising, pathologising, and humanising. By examining how childlessness is prob
lematized or legitimized, this study highlights the media’s role in shaping reproductive
narratives, stigma, and health equity across diverse contexts
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APA