Our society is currently filled with asocial phenomena generated by the dysfunctional state of the family institution: social orphanhood, alcoholism, teenage suicides, child prostitution, drug addiction, crime – this is an incomplete list of what can be eliminated by reviving a full-fledged family.
Society is interested in a strong, spiritually and morally healthy family, because the health of the younger generation is the health of the nation. It is in the family that the foundations of the individual, the citizen, and his moral and value orientations are formed. All the very first and most important things happen to a person in the family: birth, first steps, a sense of security, love and happiness. For every person, family is a necessity, with the help of which he realizes not only biological, but also spiritual needs for love, care and recognition.
According to the 2019 census, in Belarus there were 1 million 143 thousand families with children under the age of 18. During the intercensus period (from 2009 to 2019), the number of families with two children increased by 12.6%. Currently, every third family in the country (33.5%) has two children. It is important that the number of large families has increased at a record level – by almost 70%. And this trend continues, in all regions of the country. The number of large families as of October 1 last year was 120 thousand, of which 80% were families with three children.
These changes are not accidental. Since the formation of its state, Belarus has continuously invested in the family, creating large-scale social programs, developing conditions for the birth and upbringing of children, and their well-being. Every year, budget expenditures on state support for families with children are growing. Currently, support for families with children is provided in Belarus in many areas. The state takes on the financial burden by paying benefits at the birth of a child and for care until the child reaches three years of age.
Our country has also created a modern system of mother- and child-friendly perinatal care. A wide range of health care services is provided. The education system has unique opportunities to participate in family support. The coverage of children from one to six years of age in preschool education institutions is 88.5%, and full coverage of five-year-old children in preparation for school is ensured. The issue of housing for large families is under special control.
Since 2015, a fundamentally new mechanism has been introduced into the family support system – family capital at the birth (adoption) of a third or subsequent child.
Belarus has also taken another important step towards protecting the traditional family – the updated Constitution enshrines the concept of marriage as a union of a woman and a man, the responsibility of parents to prepare children for socially useful work, to instill culture and respect for the laws, historical and national traditions of their family.
It is gratifying that for most Belarusians the value of family is a priority. 98% of the population of Belarus consider family the most important part of their lives. About 80% of the country’s total population lives in families. At the same time, research confirms that the majority of Belarusians associate family with children. Let us also not ignore the fact that more and more Belarusians are taking a responsible approach to starting a family and planning a pregnancy.
Pregnancy planning is an integral stage of preparation for pregnancy, and it should concern both future parents. In this case, preparation should begin not after several unsuccessful attempts to conceive, but much earlier. This approach will protect the couple from problems with conception that undermine the psychological health of the partners, and will create favorable conditions for the normal course of pregnancy and the development of the child, as well as create the possibility of early detection of problems with conception – infertility.
The problem of infertility is relevant all over the world. The frequency of infertile marriage in the population is 13–18%. In Belarus this figure reaches 15–16%. According to the Republican Scientific and Practical Center “Mother and Child”, female infertility is 40%, male infertility – 30%, combined infertility – about 40%. At the present stage, the medical and social significance of infertility and its prevalence are especially relevant due to changes in reproductive behavior and low birth rates. A group of WHO experts in 1993 showed that the level of infertile marriages equal to 15% has a negative impact on the demographic situation.
To increase the birth rate, in accordance with Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of May 18, 2020 No. 171 “On social support for certain categories of citizens,” one free attempt at in vitro fertilization in state health care organizations is provided in the presence of medical indications and the absence of medical contraindications determined by the Ministry of Health, exclusively to married couples, in which both spouses are citizens of the Republic of Belarus and the age of the spouse does not exceed 40 years.
For all questions regarding pregnancy planning, you must contact your local gynecologist.
