Albania is facing a significant drop in birth rates in recent years. The phenomenon began to be felt after the 90s, but it released the first disturbing signals in 2011. The decline in birth rate is the second factor, after emigration, that is affecting the shrinking of the Albanian population. Therefore, starting from the need to discuss the data and the policies to be followed, doctors, demographers and representatives of UNFPA Albania analyzed, during the fourth show of the “Depopulation” cycle, the possible ways to address the challenges related to fertility in Albanian country.
Dorina Toçaj, Analyst of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Youth Program in the office of UNFPA Albania, emphasized that the drop in fertility is not only a phenomenon of Albania, as it is seen in the countries of Europe and the Western Balkans quite pronounced. It remains important that the focus of policies and programs implemented in the country is to respect rights and informed choices. In the latest demographic and health study DHS 2017-2018, conducted by UNFPA and other key actors in the country, one of the main indicators is related to the ideal family size for young couples. This figure is 2.5 children per family.
“We are surrounded by friends, family, and we see that the family structure is based on many factors. Families with more children are those where husband and wife share equal roles in the family, families where there is love and respect, and where parents take responsibility for the well-being of their children. Meanwhile, we see many cases where men or boys do not take their responsibilities in keeping the family together or in providing economic support for a good social and psychological well-being of the family. Women, in many cases in our reality, are also alone in the face of all the challenges in the functioning of the family. And, in these cases, we see families staying with one child or no children. I want to emphasize what comes out of the demographic and health study: it’s not that boys and girls don’t want to have children. They want to have children, the desire is for larger families than one child, but perhaps social-economic factors influence”, – stressed Mrs. Tocaj.
In the 1950s, Albania experienced a demographic boom, mainly due to incentive policies that favored births. After the 90s, with the fall of the communist regime, this trend changed. The change in the social and economic structure also affected the size of Albanian families. Today, various socio-economic and personal factors lead couples to have fewer or no children. Many women are choosing not to have children or delay pregnancy to pursue careers and ensure financial stability. There are also those women who, due to their lifestyle, do not give birth to children. Such is the character of the documentary about the drop in fertility in the “Depopulation” cycle, Teuta Borova.
“It did not come as a decision. It came naturally from the lifestyle I lead. Because I think like this: we are not born just to get married and have children. Of course, the child is a blessing, it is a feeling, meaning that God has blessed the woman, but not all of them. Many women have voluntarily decided not to become mothers. And this has happened to me too. I have not seen it in any aspect, even though all these years have passed, I have never seen it as ‘oh what have I done to myself’, I have not missed it.
I have always found ways to be energetic, to be full, why not to be happy”.
Immigration remains a key factor in reducing the population, with an impact on the birth rate. Albanians of reproductive age are continuing to emigrate, leaving Albania with an aging population and fewer young people to make the decision to start a family.
In cities like Gjirokastra, immigration has had a direct impact on the decrease in birth rates. Families returning from abroad often bring only pensioners with them, which further burdens the pension scheme, without bringing a positive impact on the increase in fertility.
Demographer Arjan Gjonça claims: “When I do the demographic analysis in some studies, I place the division before and after the 90s. This is due to various facts. After the 90s, the decline in fertility was felt due to several factors. Women were largely unemployed, 24% – 28%, and this influenced the decision to have a second child. Also, the democratic transition was accompanied by high immigration. Then there are economic and psychological theories. We are not alone in this phenomenon. We are becoming like all Western countries or developed countries in our demographic transition. It is a gradual decline that has come over the years. It is expected, but our figures are not so favorable, because births have fallen more than deaths and, in absolute numbers, this constitutes a problem for the future”.
While the obstetrician-gynecologists, invited to the ” Depopulation” studio, emphasized the fact that couples should think before giving birth to a child and not do it because of pressure from society or family members. Dr. Maksim Jani, Head of the Obstetrics Service at the maternity hospital of Korça, emphasized: “The satisfaction with receiving the health service in the first birth is directly related and is one of the main factors that determines how soon and if the woman will give birth to a child others. Therefore, we, as service providers, must focus on the access and quality of health services during pregnancy and, especially, during the birth process, respecting the rights of women”.
Dr. Enkeleda Prifti, head of the gynecology service at the “Koço Gliozheni” maternity hospital, emphasized that: “It is very important to think about where this child will be born. So, the child that will be born must have a healthy environment, both financially, socially and emotionally. Also, it is important that the parents who will give birth to a child continue to live in a healthy way even after the birth of the child/s”.
Statistics show that to keep the population stable, each woman must give birth to an average of 2.1 children
