Gayane Avagyan: We have no simple reproduction
The fertility rate Armenia is 1,7 that is to say 1.7 children are born per woman in her reproductive age, while the accepted norm is 2-2,1, Head of Maternal and Reproductive Health Department of Ministry of Health of Armenia Gayane Avagyan told at a press conference.
“If we want to have a secure and strong state, we should have at least more than two children in every family,” Avagyan stressed.
To her words, World Health Organization and the RA Ministry of Health have even a slogan, which says: Wanted number of children in a family at a desired period of time.
“Each pregnancy in a family should be desired in order to prevent a woman from abortion. This is to be an important issue and all of us should concentrate on this,” Avagyan noted, adding that demographic balance in Armenia is shifted due to the migration of the boys.
“Fortunately, in Armenia the boy-girl balance is kept at the reproductive age, yet we should not forget, we have the practice of gender-biased sex selections, when people predominantly have boy preferences. 112-113 baby boys are born per 100 baby girls while the assumed norm should be 105-106. ”
Head of Maternal and Reproductive Health Department then informed that in Armenia the number of abortions per woman decreased for three times compared to 2000s.
Though the number of families wishing babies increase, women often have miscarriage or suffer from infertility problems.
“14 % of infertility rate is not a small number as it refers to every seven pair. The state has assumed certain obligations with this regard. In 2015 the government adopted two decisions. The one refers to providing free medical examination and treatment opportunity to socially vulnerable families, who suffer from infertility. The second decision gave an opportunity to women living in border communities make use of recent scientific achievement - intrauterine insemination. About 30 women are involved in this program, and we hope 20 children will be born,” Avagyan detailed.