Women in Argentina are having fewer children and are giving birth later in life, a new report shows.
International Family Day was recently celebrated worldwide and a Universidad Austral team took advantage of the occasion to present a socio-demographic report on the place of women, including updated figures from the latest census.
The accelerated decline of fertility and the postponement of maternity for several years are among the conclusions highlighted by this report, thus marking the approach of significant changes in the structure of the Argentine population and the arrival of new planning problems to be considered.
"There are many demographic changes and we are confirming various trends which have accelerated abruptly in recent years to the point [to a certain degree] where they are even worrying without correct planning, as is happening, for example, with the general ageing of our population," María Dolore Dimier De Vicente, a researcher and teacher at the Domestic Science Institute of Universidad Austral, told Perfil.
Maternity rate
One of the main points highlighted by the Universidad Austral report is the average age of mothers giving birth. Argentina’s 2022 National Census takes note of a marked decline of fertility and at the same time a greater female component of the population along with an advance in life expectancy.
"We see an increase in the last few years compared with previous decades while teen maternity is falling," explained De Vicente.
According to the expert, most births since 2021 have come from women aged between 25 and 29, followed by the 30 to 34 age group. It is also possible to observe increased maternity in women in the 35 to 39 and 40 to 44 age groups. On the other hand, teen maternity has been clearly falling in the last 10 years.
This is corroborated by the statistics of this city’s Civil Register. According to the data supplied to Perfil, there were 77,334 births in 2016, falling to 43,086 last year. Something similar can be seen at national level – between 2014 and 2022, the number of live births fell 36 percent and more sharply among women aged less than 25 where the falls ranged between 40 and 60 percent.
Another striking point is the "average" number of children per woman. The Universidad Austral expert explained: "Today the average birth rate in Argentina is around 1.4 children, a number at which we were calculating we would arrive towards the year 2040. Furthermore, there are internal variations. For example, the City of Buenos Aires already registers 1.2 children per mother."
For De Vicente, these trends indicate the importance of beginning to plan actions to improve welfare in the next few decades. For example, the ageing population, which basically triggers the low natality and indicates the importance of designing alternative pension systems.
"Thought must also be given to the so-called "senior economy," related to the care, costs, investments, workspaces, entertainment and other suitable issues considering the protagonism of the elderly." she said.
Lower fertility
Another demographic aspect arising in these years is that postponed maternity makes it more difficult for women to conceive. Over and above the social trends, the period of greatest fertility continues being the same as ever –in the 20s and 30s.
"After almost two decades of consultancy, what we have observed generally is that the age for seeking a first child has been postponed and is already around or over 30," Dr Romina Pesce, Fertility chief at the Italian Hospital and gynaecology professor at its university branch, told Perfil.
Pesce also explained that this trend is being replicated in almost every developed and also developing country, except where the incomes are lowest.
"And after the pandemic this situation has been accentuated much faster," she added.
The underlying factors are clear – women have been entering the job market with better professional training, seeking their financial independence with easier access to contraceptive methods.
Pesce also draws attention to another point: "When a woman seeks children later in life, two things happen – she has less children but also finds it harder to become pregnant."
That is why the demand for reproductive medicine is growing so much. In that sense Pesce warns: "Our specialty has advanced a lot but we cannot do miracles. There is something of a myth that a woman of any age can be helped to become a mother with the right treatment. But that’s not so – the infertility problems linked to advanced age cannot always be overcome."
That is why the specialists advise leaving open the possibility of late motherhood as soon as possible, including thinking of such alternatives as the preservation of the eggs and sperm before turning 30.
Gender violence and education
According to De Vicente, another phenomenon reflected by this study is gender violence.
"Most victims of violence are women, as can be seen in various works, such as those done by the Supreme Court’s Office for Domestic Violence. It is also striking to see increased violence among senior age-groups.
“This is something relatively new because until a short while ago women aged over 60 – perhaps for cultural reasons – were not accustomed to denouncing these situations but what is true is that an increased number of denunciations in this age-group is being registered. And such violence normally occurs in a family context," she points out.
In 90 percent of cases, both the subject of domestic violence are closely linked – for example, half the denunciations by older people involve a filial link.
Within the framework of a falling birth rate, one NGO has spotted what it considers to be “an opportunity.”
According to work commissioned by the Observatorio de Argentinos por la Educación, the 36 percent drop in natality could be a “demographic opportunity” to improve the quality of education. The diminished births are having their impact on scholastic enrolment with up to 31 percent less students entering the educational system in the next few years.
“This trend,” they affirm, “could represent an opportunity to boost learning by applying the right policies.”
Among the multiple policies to be applied, this report considers three scenarios to take advantage of this opportunity and improve educational quality.
The first is to maintain the number of classrooms and reduce the number of pupils per classroom to favour a more personalised learning process. The second would be to maintain the number of students per classroom and increase the number of teachers who could play a more tutorial role. The third would be to maintain the number of students per classroom and give rotational training to the teachers while not running a class.
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