Associate Prof. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, director of Hung Vuong Hospital, said the number of women who gave birth at the hospital last year decreased by 30 percent against the Covid-19 pandemic. This is partially due to post-Covid-19 impacts.

“As a woman, considerations about getting pregnant have to focus on whether we can financially support our children. Who would help look after our children?” Tuyet said.

Le Nguyen Binh Minh, 28, from Binh Tan District said that after the Covid-19 pandemic, she and her husband decided to delay having a second child. They have had to send their child to their parents so that they could focus on work.

Having one more child would have meant even greater pressure on Minh’s family, particularly due to high inflation. Meanwhile, the income between her and her husband was modest. So the couple have decided to postpone their plans to have a second child for the next three years, Minh said.

Bui Huong Giang, 36, in Thu Duc District chose to use tubal sterilisation as a contraception method. Her eldest child is eight years old, but her husband is often away from home. Due to the economic downturn, they’ve postponed any plans to have more children.