Addressing the Asian Pacific fertility crisis: The importance of tertiary education and workplace reforms

Asian Pacific leaders in reproductive health are sounding the alarm on declining birth rates and urging action from tertiary education sectors and employers. The total fertility rates in many countries in the Asia Pacific region have dropped below replacement levels, leading to serious social and economic challenges as the population ages.

The Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) is spearheading a reform blueprint called Fertility Counts to address the threat of falling fertility rates. ASPIRE President, Dr. Clare Boothroyd, emphasized the need for family-friendly policies that encourage family planning at a younger age. This includes introducing more flexible study programs, improved childcare services, and maternity and paternity leave reforms.

The ASPIRE 2024 Congress in Manila highlighted the urgent need for policy makers, businesses, and education leaders to address the economic and social consequences of declining birth rates. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are already advocating for family-friendly reform measures.

Experts at the congress shared alarming statistics, such as New Zealand’s total fertility rate dropping below replacement levels and similar trends in Vietnam and Thailand. Professor Kamthorn Pruksananonda from Chulalongkorn University Hospital in Bangkok warned of a decline in workplace participation and productivity due to the aging population in Thailand.

Dr. Ho Manh Tuong from Ho Chi Minh City Society for Reproductive Medicine emphasized the regional disparities in fertility rates in Vietnam driven by socio-economic pressures. ASPIRE will continue to promote evidence-based initiatives to encourage parenthood during prime reproductive years.

The ASPIRE Congress in Manila serves as a platform to raise awareness and drive action on the pressing issue of declining birth rates in the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit the Congress website www.aspire2024.com.