Childbirth is declining at an unprecedented rate, UN says
Child birth and fertility rate is declining at an alarming rate across the World, says the UN. This situation, the global agency says, is due to cost of child care, cost of parenthood and scarcity of available marriage partners.
Namrata Nangia and her spouse have been contemplating the prospect of having another child since the birth of their five-year-old daughter. However, they consistently return to a singular question: ‘Can we afford it?’
Residing in Mumbai, Namrata is employed in the pharmaceutical sector, while her husband works for a tyre company. The financial burden of raising one child is already significant – encompassing school fees, transportation, swimming lessons, and even visits to the general practitioner, all of which are costly.
Namrata reflects on her own upbringing, stating, “When I was growing up, we simply attended school without any extracurricular activities, but nowadays, it is essential to enroll children in swimming, art classes, and other activities to explore their potential.”
A recent report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency focused on reproductive rights, indicates that Namrata’s experience is increasingly becoming a global trend.
The agency has issued a strong statement regarding the decline in fertility rates, cautioning that hundreds of millions of individuals are unable to have the number of children they desire, attributing this to the high costs of parenthood and the scarcity of suitable partners.
UNFPA conducted a survey involving 14,000 individuals across 14 countries regarding their fertility aspirations. One in five respondents indicated that they have not had, or do not anticipate having, their preferred number of children.
The countries included in the survey – South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, India, Indonesia, Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria – represent one-third of the global population.
These nations encompass a diverse range of income levels and fertility rates. UNFPA’s survey targeted both young adults and those who have surpassed their reproductive years. Dr. Natalia Kanem, the head of UNFPA, states, “The world is experiencing an unprecedented decline in fertility rates.”
“The majority of those surveyed express a desire for two or more children. The decline in fertility rates is largely due to many feeling incapable of establishing the families they envision. This represents a significant crisis,” she adds.
“Referring to this situation as a crisis and affirming its authenticity represents a significant change, in my opinion,” states demographer Anna Rotkirch, who has conducted research on fertility intentions across Europe and provides counsel to the Finnish government regarding population policy.
“In general, there is a greater tendency for individuals to fall short of their fertility ideals rather than exceed them,” she notes. Her extensive studies in Europe have sparked her interest in observing similar trends on a global scale.
She was also taken aback by the number of respondents over the age of 50 (31%) who indicated they had fewer children than they had desired. The survey, which serves as a preliminary study for research across 50 countries later this year, has limitations in its scope. For instance, the sample sizes within specific age groups in various countries are insufficient for drawing definitive conclusions.
Nevertheless, certain findings are evident. In every country surveyed, 39% of participants reported that financial constraints hindered them from having a child. The highest percentage was recorded in Korea (58%), while the lowest was in Sweden (19%).
Overall, only 12% of respondents mentioned infertility or challenges in conceiving as a reason for not achieving their desired number of children. However, this figure was notably higher in countries such as Thailand (19%), the United States (16%), South Africa (15%), Nigeria (14%), and India (13%).
“This marks the first occasion that [the UN] has fully addressed the issues surrounding low fertility,” remarks Prof. Stuart Gietel-Basten, a demographer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Until recently, the agency concentrated primarily on women who have more children than they wish and the “unmet need” for contraception. Nonetheless, the UNFPA is advocating for caution in response to the challenges posed by low fertility.
“Currently, we are witnessing a significant amount of catastrophic rhetoric surrounding issues of overpopulation and declining population, which results in exaggerated and at times manipulative reactions,” states Dr. Kanem. “This pertains to efforts aimed at encouraging women to either increase or decrease their childbirth rates.”
She highlights that four decades ago, countries such as China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Turkey expressed concerns regarding their excessively high populations. However, by 2015, their focus shifted towards enhancing fertility rates.
“Our goal is to prevent these nations from implementing any hasty policies,” remarks Prof. Gietel-Basten. “We are observing that low fertility rates, an aging population, and stagnant population growth are being utilized as justifications for the adoption of nationalist, anti-immigrant, and gender-conservative policies,” he adds.
The UNFPA discovered that a more significant obstacle to having children than financial constraints is the lack of time. This resonates with Namrata from Mumbai. She dedicates a minimum of three hours daily to commuting to and from her workplace. Upon returning home, she feels fatigued yet desires to spend quality time with her daughter. Consequently, her family experiences a shortage of sleep. “After a day at work, there is an inherent guilt as a mother for not dedicating sufficient time to your child,” she expresses. “Thus, we have decided to concentrate on just one child.” SOURCE: BBC: Article by Stephanie Hegarty, Population correspondent•@stephhegarty
