Trends in Multiple Births in Korea and Their Implications for Policy

Abstract

While ranking lowest in the world in terms of total fertility and total number of births, Korea has seen a steady increase in multiple births over the years, with the result that it now ranks second in multiple birth rate and first in the rate of triplet and higher-order births among the countries included in the Human Multiple Births Database. As maternal age increases over time, multifetal pregnancies are increasingly at risk for preterm birth and low birthweight, requiring longer-term policy attention, including continued monitoring of various postpartum risk factors associated with multiple births, such as health issues and care burden. However, one challenge in Korea is that, aside from limited data on multiple births—which provide only a basic profile (e.g., number of births, birthweight, gestational age)—there is little established evidence to gain a comprehensive understanding of both postnatal childcare and the care environment in households with multiples, as well as their needs for policy support. These circumstances call for additional evidence and further research on households with multiples, which should lead to informed policy discussions and the development of a system of continuous, integrated health and welfare services tailored to their needs.