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GreekReporter.comGreeceSpiegel-Online: Fear of Crisis Affects Family Planning Among Greeks

Spiegel-Online: Fear of Crisis Affects Family Planning Among Greeks

A report from Athens presented on the Spiegel-Online website reports that the uncertainty and fear of the crisis has overwhelmed family planning in Greece. The birth rate is at its lowest, while the number of abortions is dramatically increasing. The debt crisis has intensified this trend. A whole generation of Greeks aged 30-40 years is facing serious problems in family planning. The financial crisis, unemployment and fear for the future are the main reasons that make young people think again and again whether they are ready to produce offspring. There is no support on the part of the state, and due to cuts, the number of places in daycare, kindergartens and nursery schools are constantly being reduced. An example is the municipality of Halandri, where formerly there were 900 positions in public kindergartens in a total of 100,000 inhabitants, while now there are around 400.
Statistics show that Greek women are postponing motherhood.  In 1975, mothers gave birth to their first child at the average age of 25.9 years.  In 2009, the average age of first-time mothers rose to 31.1.
Regarding work related benefits to new mothers, a 17 weeks allowance and an up to 6 months maternity leave are given.  Financial allowances for children are very low, at 8.22 euros for the first child, and 24.65 euros for two children.
In Europe, Greece occupies the top spot in the number of abortions performed, estimated to be a “world record” with 140 abortions per 1000 Greek pregnancies.  Ten years ago, the number of abortions was about 200,000 among nearly 11 million people. Now the number is estimated at 300,000 annually, although there are no safe statistics.
A limiting factor in the creation of a family, according to experts, is the current financial circumstances in Greece. A significant proportion of young Greeks, despite having university education, works in part-time jobs and has no future professional prospects. They are forced to continue staying in their family home even after their 30’s, due to the lack of sufficient money and prospects to help them make a proper living. The unemployment rate at ages 15-24 is estimated at 42.5% this year, and at 22.6% among ages 25-34, according to official statistics.
Given these conditions, and the probability of being dismissed from a job without the prospect of finding another one, family planning has become even more difficult. Nevertheless, the article concludes on an uplifting note with the statement of one employee who stated: “The Greeks always had the idea of creating a family on their minds, even in their worst financial periods.”

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