Parenting Characteristics and Problems of Urban Two Children Families Amid the Universal Two-Child Policy

International research consistently shows that young care leavers’ journey from care to emerging adulthood is characterised by adversities such as unemployment, poor academic performance, homelessness, involvement in criminal activities, mental illness and early parenthood. As research evidence points out, such negative outcomes are closely linked with the existence of multiple placements, lack of mentoring, limited connections with significant others, the absence of early preparation to leave care, and a dearth of or inadequate policy frameworks that entitle care leavers to use aftercare support schemes. In order to support care leavers’ transition from care to emerging adulthood, Global North countries have implemented an independent care leaving policy framework that serves as a scaffolding for challenges that would arise from care leavers’ exploration of the adult world upon leaving care. However, such experience in formulation of policy to empower care leavers to be an independent adult is not well developed in countries in Global South due to the infant nature of research on care leaving and a preference for addressing the issues of care leavers in the existing child policy frameworks rather than formulating a special policy that deals with care leaving. The status of Ethiopia in this regard is not different. Existing policy frameworks concerning children have failed to address the needs of Ethiopian care leavers despite the existence of over five million orphan and vulnerable children in the country most of whom are placed in institutional childcare centres. This article presents the case for an independent care leaving policy in Ethiopia to address the multifaceted needs of children in care and improve the care leaving service in the country. Thus, the study will shed light on the state of care leaving policy in the world and lessons for Ethiopia to support Ethiopia’s attempt to serve the most vulnerable children in care by developing its own care leaving policy.

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The second pregnancy has no effect in the incidence of macrosomia: a cross-sectional survey in two western Chinese regions

Journal of Health Population and Nutrition ◽

10.1186/s41043-021-00244-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Li Luo ◽

Huan Zeng ◽

Mao Zeng ◽

Xueqing Liu ◽

Xianglong Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Western China ◽

Fetal Macrosomia ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Second Child ◽

Child Policy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background After the implementation of the universal two-child policy in China, the increase in parity has led to an increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes. The impact of one and two fetuses on the incidence of fetal macrosomia has not been fully confirmed in China. This study aimed to explore the differences in the incidence of fetal macrosomia in first and second pregnancies in Western China after the implementation of the universal two-child policy. Methods A total of 1598 pregnant women from three hospitals were investigated by means of a cross-sectional study from August 2017 to January 2018. Participants were recruited by convenience and divided into first and second pregnancy groups. These groups included 1094 primiparas and 504 women giving birth to their second child. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to discuss the differences in the incidence of fetal macrosomia in first and second pregnancies. Results No significant difference was found in the incidence of macrosomia in the first pregnancy group (7.2%) and the second pregnancy group (7.1%). In the second-time pregnant mothers, no significant association was found between the macrosomia of the second child (5.5%) and that of the first child (4.7%). The multivariate logistic regression model showed that mothers older than 30 years are not likely to give birth to children with macrosomia (odds ratio (OR) 0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4,0.9). Conclusions The incidence of macrosomia in Western China is might not be affected by the birth of the second child and is not increased by low parity.

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Fertility intentions among the working population of Dalian City born between 1980 and 1989

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932021000213 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Hongyan Qiu ◽

Qun Zhang ◽

Jin Zhang ◽

Qingshan Wang ◽

Lihong Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Income ◽

Reproductive Behaviour ◽

Fertility Intentions ◽

Second Child ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Child Policy ◽

Future Fertility ◽

The Future ◽

Dalian City ◽

Ideal Number

Abstract In October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that the one-child policy had finally been replaced by a universal two-child policy. China’s universal two-child policy is highly significant because, for the first time in 36 years, no one in an urban city is restricted to having just one child. This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore future fertility intentions and factors influencing individual reproductive behaviour (whether to have two children) in Dalian City. A total of 1370 respondents were interviewed. The respondents’ mean ideal number of children was only 1.73, and urban respondents’ sex preference was symmetrical. A total of 19.0% of the respondents were unmarried, 64.5% were married and had childbearing experience and only 6.3% of married respondents had two children. Among the 1370 participants, 30.4% stated that they would have a second child, while 69.6% refused to have a second child in the future. Binary logistic regression analysis (Model 1) showed that the following characteristics were associated with having only one child in the future: being female, being older, having a lower education level, being born in Dalian, having a lower family income and reporting one child as the ideal number of children. Model 2 (comprising only respondents with childbearing experience) showed that respondents who were female, had a lower family income and were unable to obtain additional financial support from parents were more likely to intend to stick at one child. In addition, respondents’ ideal number of children and childbearing experiences had a significant influence on future fertility intentions. These results suggest that fertility intentions and reproductive behaviours are still below those needed for replacement level fertility in Dalian City. China’s policymakers should pay more attention to these factors (socioeconomic characteristics, economic factors, desired number of children and childbearing experiences) and try to increase individual reproductive behaviour.

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Recent sex ratio at birth in China

BMJ Global Health ◽

10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005438 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. e005438

Author(s):

Quanbao Jiang ◽

Cuiling Zhang

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Normal Level ◽

Decomposition Methods ◽

Sex Ratio At Birth ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Female Fetus ◽

The Past ◽

Multiple Data ◽

Child Policy ◽

Second Births

BackgroundChina’s sex ratio at birth (SRB) has declined in the past decade but still exceeds the normal level. This study seeks to depict the SRB trend in the past two decades.MethodsWe depicted the SRB trend, including SRB by birth order, children composition, residence and hukou type, education, race and province using latest data available from multiple data sources and standardisation and decomposition methods.ResultsThe SRB remained around 120 in the first decade from 2000 to 2010, and recently declined and approached the normal level during 2010–2020. The SRB for second births and first births converged to the normal level, whereas the SRB for third and above births exceeded the normal level. The rising proportion of second births increased, whereas the decreasing proportion of first births reduced the overall SRB. Parents with only daughters are more likely to abort a female fetus in pursuit of a son, while parents with only sons are more likely to abort a male fetus in pursuit of a daughter. It also shows difference in SRB by residence, hukou type, educational attainment and race. Urban SRB was lower than rural SRB, by the residence and hukou type, but higher than rural SRB after being standardised. Provinces still exhibit differences by original categorised policy even after the implementation of the universal two-child policy.ConclusionsChina’s SRB has declined substantially during the past two decades, but the negative effects need to be tackled.

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The willingness of women of childbearing age to have a second child in lanzhou under the “universal two-child policy”

Children and Youth Services Review ◽

10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105732 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 121 ◽

pp. 105732

Author(s):

Wen-Zheng Zhang ◽

Jia-Yin Zheng

Keyword(s):

Women Of Childbearing Age ◽

Childbearing Age ◽

Second Child ◽

Child Policy

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Frog Metaphors in Mo Yan’s Novel 蛙 /UA55/ (Frog): A Cognitive Perspective

MANUSYA ◽

10.1163/26659077-02002006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 122-153

Author(s):

Yao Siqi

Keyword(s):

The Novel ◽

Human Beings ◽

Mo Yan ◽

Cognitive Approach ◽

One Child Policy ◽

Child Policy ◽

Past Half Century ◽

Metaphor Theory ◽

George Lakoff ◽

Chinese Author

《蛙》/ua55/ (frog) by the Nobel Prize winning Chinese author Mo Yan describes China’s changing its highly controversial one - child policy and system of forced abortions over the past half-century. Frog metaphors are omnipresent throughout the novel. The present study aims to investigate these metaphors within the framework of George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and the “GREAT CHAIN OF BEING” system of George Lakoff and Mark Turner (1989) to deepen our understanding of their nature and manifestations. Zoltán Kövecses’s (2002) “HUMAN BEINGS ARE ANIMALS” and “ANIMALS ARE HUMAN BEINGS” were also considered as cognitive metaphorical models. Moreover, the viewpoint of “phonetic metaphor” initially proposed by Ivan Fónagy (1999) was also taken into account. Results were that in Mo Yan’s work, the frog plays an essential role in the conceptualizing conventional views of certain areas in China. The analysis demonstrates how a cognitive approach offers an effective way to explore the cognitive basis of the text’s view on the complex relationship between the basic human rights and the dilemmas of living in a repressive society. This paper also hopes to make a certain contribution to comprehending frog metaphors in terms of more clearly delineated concepts and ideology reflecting China’s real society of a one-child policy and its traditional counter - policy notion.

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