1. WHAT IS THE LINK BETWEEN THESE IMAGES

2. SINGAPORE:A ProNatal Policy
Learning Objectives:
1. To have a case study of a pro-natal policy
Singapore

3. THE PROBLEM IN SINGAPORE
In 1990 the fertility rate (average number of children born to each woman of child-bearing age) was in 1.87, from it lowered down to 1.37 and last year it was only 1.28, being the 3rd lowest country in the world

4. Background
In the early 1960’s Singapore’s population grew rapidly. In average, every family had 4 or 5 children, to which followed many years of unemployment, insufficient housing and inadequate educational and healthcare facilities.
Therefore the government decided to implement a large family planning campaign which included the 2 child policy.

5. The policy worked out perfectly and a rapid economic growth was seen in the 1970’s as well as many changes:
More people were educated
More women joined the workforce
Family’s incomes rose
Family’s sizes decreased
People’s attitude towards marriage and parenthood changed
Now families had from 1 to 2 children
Late marriages
More single people
Higher cost of living

7. Singapore’s Pro Natal Policy
Paid maternity leave extended from 2 months to 3 (3rd month is government paid)
Employees with children below 7 years old are entitled to 2 days of child care leave.
Parents will receive $3000 in cash for their 1st child and co-savings up to $9000 for the 2nd child and up to $ for the 3rd child and up.
Centre-based infant care subsidy increased
Parents are given tax-rebates

8. Failure linked to:
high levels of stress
Availability of birth control methods due to successful family planning programmes
Reduced desires for children
Women putting their careers before their motherhoods
High cost of living and raising children
Economic downturn in South East Asia
Lack of time to take care of children
No sex and the city

9. HOW DID THE GOVERNMENT RESPOND?

10. “We have to change people’s minds, so they think of making babies as something that’s happy.”-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

11. sex counsellors advice, fertility seminars, aphrodisiacs
This committee’s have come out with many ideas, but they are mainly working on a “Romantic Campaign”
through date guidebooks (“When boy meets girl! The chemistry guide”),
love festivals which have a love boat river race, tango parties, spa packages, weekend getaways,
sex counsellors advice,
fertility seminars,
aphrodisiacs
three-course “love meal” in Pizza Hut with a heart-shaped pizza.