The proposal suggests that couples should decide how many children they want, in line with current population trends.

The Ministry of Health proposes allowing couples to decide how many children they want, instead of each couple having one or two children as before - Photo: QUANG DINH

Instead of each couple having 'one or two children', the Ministry of Health recently proposed that couples have the right to decide when to have children, the number of children, and the spacing between births, in accordance with their age, health status, income, etc.

Propagation of life skills should be tailored to the target group.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Dr. Bui Chi Thuong, head of the obstetrics department at Gia Dinh People's Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), said that the Ministry of Health's proposal to allow couples to decide how many children they want is entirely reasonable given Vietnam's rapidly aging population.

This proposal is even more necessary because of the current demographic situation where the population is aging before it gets rich. At the same time, the birth rate in urban areas is alarmingly low, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City, where the birth rate in 2023 was only 1.32 children. This decline in birth rates will significantly impact the future population structure.

"During prenatal checkups at the hospital, many women have mentioned that raising children is very difficult and expensive these days, and the cost of living is high in urban areas, so they only choose to have one or two children. It's not just urban families; many rural families are also trending towards having fewer children due to the high costs," Dr. Thuong said.

According to Dr. Thuong, it is necessary to make reasonable calculations and have the most appropriate policies to encourage childbirth in urban areas.

In some countries around the world, there are many policies that create favorable conditions for couples to have children, such as: husbands being allowed to take time off work and receive pay to care for their wives, children receiving free education, or being given priority for reduced working hours for those with young children, etc.

According to Mr. Pham Chanh Trung, Head of the Population and Family Planning Department of Ho Chi Minh City, one of the challenges in the current pro-natalist policy is the distinct characteristics of different target groups.

Regarding the Ministry of Health's proposal to allow couples to decide how many children they want, consideration should be given to the needs of different groups.

Specifically, they can currently be divided into three different groups:

For those who want to have children but are concerned about finances and the conditions for raising and caring for their children: support is needed to create conditions that allow them to confidently give birth and raise their children (taking into account the specific conditions of large cities like Ho Chi Minh City) in terms of healthcare, education, and employment.

For financially well-off groups with changing views on marriage age (later age) and childbirth: media should educate people about some of the personal and family consequences of marrying later and having fewer children.

For groups who wish to have children but are unable to due to health reasons (facing pressure regarding primary and secondary infertility treatment) and other groups: support for couples preparing for marriage to undergo pre-marital health check-ups and support policies for infertility counseling and treatment for couples who lack the means.

A proactive policy is needed.

Professor Giang Thanh Long, from the Faculty of Economics at the National Economics University and a seasoned expert in the field of population, believes that the current low birth rate is not due to population control policies but rather to a change in people's perceptions of having children.

"Many families are perfectly capable of having a third child, but they choose to stop at one or two because they will have more time to care for their children and ensure they receive the best possible care."

"Having more children means a greater burden on the family, so like other countries, Vietnamese people also tend to have fewer children, especially in more economically prosperous regions," Mr. Long observed.

To address the issue of replacement fertility rates, Mr. Long believes that although the current replacement fertility rate nationwide is not yet at an alarming level, policies are still needed to "anticipate" the situation.

It is crucial that social security policies ensure the ability to raise children so that couples can feel secure in having children.

"If couples have to worry about where their child will study, which school they will attend, whether or not they will have a home, etc., then it will be very difficult for them to choose to have children. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure social welfare policies, guarantee a safe learning environment, and provide healthcare..."

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-xuat-vo-chong-tu-quyet-sinh-bao-nhieu-con-phu-hop-thuc-trang-dan-so-2024071017103147.htm