Fertility rates among women decline in UAE

Birth rates in Dubai have been declining over the years with the lowest fertility rate over the past eight years standing at 2.8 children per woman in 2017.
The fertility rate for Emirati women in the age group 15-49 years in 2017 was 3.8 per woman as compared to 1.3 non-national women, according to the Dubai Annual Health Statistical Report compiled by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
The report attributes the declining birth rates to urbanisation, changing attitudes about family size, and increased education and work opportunities for women.
Late marriages, putting off having children and high costs of raising children are among the several reasons for a dip in fertility rates among Emiratis in Dubai, a report released by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) in 2016 said.
Over the years, the fertility rates for nationals in Dubai in 2011 was 5.7, dipping to 5.2 in 2012 and to 4.3 in 2015 before going up to 5.2 in 2016 and falling again in 2017 to 3.8, the lowest ever.
The DHA report said that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the main driver for growth for any country. "A total of 31,815 live births were recorded in Dubai during 2017, making a Crude Birth Rate (CBR) of 10.7 per 1,000 population. A decline has been noticed in the CBR from 2016 to 2017 (13.3 per cent)," it said.
Aisha Miran, assistant secretary-general for strategy management and governance sector at The Executive Council of Dubai, said: "In Dubai, we continue to maintain acceptable fertility levels compared to these global figures." However, if the situation has to be corrected through policies, a number of issues need to be kept in mind.
To give a boost to declining numbers, in 2013, the DHA sponsored fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) needed by Emirati couples who are facing infertility problems and have financial difficulties as part of the 'Amal' initiative.
The Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC) sponsored the cost of all cycles of fertility treatment needed for Emiratis who were suffering from infertility problems and were selected for this initiative. In 2017, the centre reached 1,000 IVF treatment cycles.
Of the 4,337 babies born at the centre, 110 babies were born to Emirati couples who opted for the Amal initiative up until October 2016.
Earlier this year, the Human Development Report 2018, compiled by UAE University in collaboration with the UN Development Programme also said that birth rates in the UAE are dropping significantly and rapidly among Emiratis and expatriates.
The birth rate was 6.6 children for each woman in the early 1970s, then dropped consistently until it reached 5.4 in 1980, and 1.8 in 2015.
"The UN reports revealed that the UAE, which once ranked among high-birth countries, is now among the countries where births have been dropping constantly and rapidly since 2005," the report said.
There are many reasons for the decline, the report said, including increased birth control options, rising cost of living and higher rates of education and employment among women.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Asma Ali Zain

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com