Although China has abandoned its one–child policy last year in October, it is still hard for parents to first get their old children registered and documented, while planning for a second child. Major issues relate to the lack of doctors, but another issue is the way government institutions are censoring family planning discussions and debates, vital for the civil society and parents who wish to have a second child.
The Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Family Planning and health Commission and other leading internet companies took down various accounts on the internet and social media channels such as Weibo and blogosphere, where pregnancies and child mortality were being discussed. Dr. Yi, a Chinese scientist, and demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said, “Of course, I’m furious. But not as furious as everyone might think, because what’s different today from 10 years ago is that public opinion has shifted.” Although thousands of online comments on family planning have vanished over the past months, people in China are still discussing the issues key face while thinking about a second child in China.
China resorted to reforming the policy as in 2014, it saw a reduction in birth rates. This reversal of one child policy has its own critics. There has been a sharp increase in maternal deaths of women who are trying to have a second child after the age of 35. As per medical research, women aged above 35 may have severe complications. However, there is already a higher number pregnancies China is going through and this may need to be addressed through adequate family planning reforms.
References
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/debate-in-china-over-reported-spike-in-maternal-deaths
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/08/world/asia/china-fuxian-yi-population-one-child-policy.html
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