Cuba Tries to Reverse Low Birthrate, Dire Demographics

Cuba Tries to Reverse Low Birthrate, Dire Demographics
By Andre PugIie (staff@latinpost.com)First Posted: Jan 12, 2016 04:13 PM EST

Cuba -- the country with the oldest population and highest legal
abortion rate in all of Latin America -- is now encouraging young
couples to have children and reverse what is increasingly viewed as the
communist country's dire demographic situation.

The island nation has seen its birthrate drop dramatically since the
1970s, and experts predict that its population may shrink by as much as
a third within the next 50 years, The New York Times reported. And by
mid-century, more than 40 percent of Cubans may be over the age of 60.
Focus back on demographics
Observers who have been captivated by the recent rapprochement between
the United States and Cuba are now once again turning their attention to
the country's numbers issue, said Hazel Denton, a former World Bank
economist who has studied Cuban demographics.

"We are all so excited about the trade and travel that we have
overlooked the demographics problem," Denton said. "This is a
significant issue," he said.
But many young Cubans feel that given an average state salary of just
$20 per month, having kids is simply too expensive, the Business Insider
reported. And Laura Rivera González, a married architecture student
living in Havana, said it was simply more practical to hold off on
starting a family.
"At the end of the day, we don't want to make things more difficult for
ourselves," she said.
And Elisabeth Domínguez, who along with her husband, Eddy Marrero, earns
about $70 a month, said the couple's income simply does not allow them
to support a child.
"It's barely enough for the two of us," the 29-year-old said. "How could
we afford a kid?"
It's the economy, stupid
Experts, thus, believe that the demographic struggle is mainly due to
Cuba's dire economic situation and has little to do with the country's
liberal abortion policy, which has led to a nearly 30 abortions for
every 1,000 women of childbearing age, according to statistics compiled
by the United Nations.
Still, as the aging population could soon overwhelm the state health
care system and diminish the communist nation's workforce, Cuba's
government is now making a push to persuade young citizens to start
families, the New York Times said.
Authorities are circulating pro-pregnancy pamphlets, and -- according to
women's accounts -- government doctors now frequently discouraged them
from having abortions. Meanwhile, ordinary Cubans have noticed sudden
shortages of condoms and birth control pills.

Source: Cuba Tries to Reverse Low Birthrate, Dire Demographics : World :
Latin Post -
http://www.latinpost.com/articles/108206/20160112/cuba-tries-to-reverse-low-birthrate-dire-demographics.htm