Job insecurity, lack of reliable childcare, and poor health are the barriers behind the rising fertility crisis, according to the latest report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released on Tuesday.The State of World Population (SOWP) report showed that millions of people are not able to realise their real fertility goals — that is a person’s ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception, and starting a family. It called for a shift from panic over falling fertility to addressing unmet reproductive goals.
The report, which included a UNFPA-YouGov survey across 14 countries, including India, with 14,000 respondents reveals multiple barriers to reproductive autonomy in India.
Financial limitations (40 per cent) were one of the biggest barriers to reproductive freedom. This was followed by job insecurity (21 per cent), housing constraints (22 per cent), and the lack of reliable childcare (18 per cent) that is making parenthood feel out of reach.
Further, health barriers like poor general well-being (15 per cent), infertility (13 per cent), and limited access to pregnancy-related care (14 per cent) added to the burden. Climate change and political and social instability are also increasing anxiety about the future, preventing people from planning a family. About 19 per cent faced partner or family pressure to have fewer children than they wanted.
“India has made significant progress in lowering fertility rates — from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to about two today — thanks to improved education and access to reproductive healthcare,” said Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative.