Reduced child birth rate due to housing, financial constraints: Study

Housing and financial constraints are the two main reason why Maldivians do not have children, a study conducted by Maldives National University (MNU) has shown.

The results of the research conducted in collaboration with UNFPA on "Social and Economic Factors in Fertility in Maldives" were released on Thursday, highlighting the reasons for low birth rates and what can be done to increase the numbers.

The study included 479 women aged 18-4 along with men and healthcare professionals who participated in the focus group discussions.

The average age of the women who provided information for the study was 32.8. Ten percent of the respondents were unmarried while 83 percent were women in their first marriage. 33 percent said they did not have children living with them and 27 percent of the respondents have not yet had children, according to the study.

55.5 percent of the women who participated said they did not have more children despite wanting to because they did not have adequate space to live in. 40.9 percent of women said they did not have more children because of financial difficulties. For health reasons, 27 percent said they would not have a second child.

Because of this, 43.3 percent of women said changing policies to provide financial benefits would encourage them to have more children. 16.8 percent of women said that providing spacious housing would also facilitate having more children. The third most common response was free housing to increase birth rates.

Based on the findings, the study recommended important measures to increase the country's population. They include;

- Provide better housing opportunities for families with more than two children

- Government subsidized day-care centers near state agencies

- Implementation of flexible work policies and job sharing

- Strengthening maternity and paternity leave in government and private institutions

- Respond well to health issues that prevent childbearing

Fifty-six percent of the women who participated said they did not want many children. Twenty-eight percent believed three children are the best number to have. However, they do not have that many children.

Although young people want larger families, they face institutional and economic barriers, the study highlighted.

The fertility rate in Maldives in the year 1990 was 6.4 percent. 32 years later, in 2022, the rate has dropped to 1.7. Afghanistan has the highest fertility rate among SAARC countries.

(Women aged 18-45)

- Increased living and childcare costs make it difficult to support a large family

- Education, employment and lifestyle are among the reasons why young women between the ages of 18 and 25 delay having children

- Women between the ages of 30 and 45 say they have financial difficulties, strained relationships between couples and fertility problems which make it difficult to have children

(Healthcare experts)

- Men's infertility and related problems are not adequately addressed

- Barriers in the workplace and inadequate childcare support

- Expansion of daycare services and implementation of ethical fertility protocols

(Policy makers)

- Lack of a national policy on reproductive health

- Advocate for data systems and a child care system that involves all children

- Work environment and housing conditions prevent people from having children

In the focus group meetings, men said both partners discuss having children. However, financial situation and housing are an obstacle, they said. Additionally, it was also highlighted that although women's career expectations are supported, men are not supported in the workplace.