Childfree Trends Increase In Thailand, Many Women Choose Not To Have Children
JAKARTA - The phenomenon of childfree or the decision not to have children has now begun to be clearly visible in Thailand. The results of a national survey conducted by the Thai Ministry of Health revealed that only 63 percent of women aged 19 to 49 said they wanted to have children.
This figure marks a major change in the view of the life of young Thai women towards marriage and family.
The survey involving 404 women aged 34 years also shows that about a third of respondents prefer not to have children at all.
Meanwhile, only 53 percent of them have adequate health understandings related to pregnancy, nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle.
According to Dr. Amoren Benjaponpitak, Director General of the Thai Ministry of Health, this shift reflects changes in the mindset and priorities of today's women.
"This data shows that more and more women place happiness, career, and personal freedom above the traditional role of mother," he said, quoted from The Thaiger's page.
Although most respondents still want a life partner, many of them feel they are not financially and emotionally ready to become parents. The high cost of living, economic pressure, and lack of social support factors are referred to as the main reasons.
Respondents also highlighted the need for stronger support from the government, such as universal child support, paid maternity leave of up to 180 days, and access to subsidized fertility programs for those experiencing difficulty having children.
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Thailand's Ministry of Health has also started conducting various educational campaigns through social media and health services, in order to increase understanding of reproductive health and high-risk pregnancies.
The government is also considering new policies to encourage birth rates, including incentives for young families.
This childfree phenomenon in Thailand reflects a trend that has also occurred in many other Asian countries, where the younger generation prefers to live independently without children. With the declining birth rate, Thailand is now faced with major challenges in maintaining the balance of the population and the future of the family.