In Cuba, the economy is the main cause of women of childbearing age giving up or postponing maternity after the application in January 2021 of the so-called Task of Reorganization.
There is no proportional increase in births, Cubadebate specifies and describes the situation as “alarming.”
Women continue to prioritize, in most cases, personal projects in the midst of the “galloping inflation” the country is experiencing with a sustained rise in product prices.
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“The difficulties of mothers in Cuba begin from minute one in which the pregnancy is detected and there are no prenatal medicines in pharmacies,” said an interviewee to the outlet about the lack of medicines and medical supplies.
Hospitals do not have, among other needs, a cesarean section kit, which forces many pregnant women to get them through social media, where they appear at prices ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 pesos, depending on the quality and model.
Another Cuban explained to the press that “the difficulties are multiplied with the price of the layette, the crib, the carriage, taro at 120 pesos per pound, the price of fruits and vegetables for that child to have a balanced diet.”
“Food, maintenance, recreation and children’s entertainment, transportation. All, in one way or another, go against a happier childhood,” she added.
Cuba has not reached the population replacement rate since 1978 when for every one woman there should be another to replace her in the reproductive role.
The Cuban government recognizes among the emergency needs the economic deficiencies, migration and limited access to housing.
