TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Health Promotion Administration (國民健康署) on Friday (Oct. 4) urged pregnant women to follow essential prenatal checkup guidelines to ensure their health and that of their newborns. This call comes as Taiwan faces a trend of late marriages and childbirths, increasing the need for comprehensive prenatal care.
Data from the Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) shows that over 133,000 babies were born in 2023; over 31.97% had mothers aged 35 and above, and 53.43% were firstborns. These statistics highlight the rising risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth for older mothers.
To address these challenges, the Health Promotion Administration emphasized the importance of maintaining complete records of personal information such as age, parity, and health status, which help doctors understand the health conditions of pregnant women.
Regular prenatal checkups are crucial in monitoring fetal development and maternal changes. They allow early detection of abnormalities and appropriate treatment to prevent pregnancy complications.
As late marriages and childbirths become more common in Taiwan, the government is not only promoting health education to ensure safer pregnancies but also considering legislative changes. Recent years have seen political figures propose amendments to the Assisted Reproduction Act (人工生殖法), sparking public discussions on policies like surrogacy and egg freezing.