Losing an only child: the one-child policy and elderly care in China

China has had the one-child policy for more than 30 years. It reduced China’s population growth within a short period of time and promoted economic development. However, it has also led to difficulties, and this paper focuses on those which pertain to ageing and losing one’s only child. Approximately one million families have lost their only child in China. They suffer mentally and physically, and sometimes face social stigma and economic loss. What worries them most, however, is elderly care, which has become a severe crisis for the families who have lost their only children.
Source: Reproductive Health Matters - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Source Type: research