China has unveiled two newly revised national standards aimed at improving the quality of services provided by maternity matrons and nannies, in a bid to support childbirth amid shifting demographics.
The standards, set to take effect on March 1, 2025, will better regulate domestic maternal and baby nursing services, as well as home-based care services for children from birth to three years old, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Maternity matrons, known as “yuesao” in Chinese, provide postpartum care to mothers and newborns during the first month or longer after childbirth. Nannies, referred to as “yu’ersao,” take care of young children. Both professions are increasingly sought after by Chinese parents seeking a higher quality of life.
The new standard for maternity matrons introduces and specifies requirements for training, service procedures, and quality standards, aiming to better meet consumers’ growing demand for more professional, secure, and individualized services. It also provides a basis for effective oversight, said Zhang Boyu, an expert on domestic service standards who participated in drafting the new guidelines.
The standard for nanny services includes recommendations for addressing children’s emotional and psychological needs, in addition to their basic care. It offers guidelines for early education, experts involved in formulating the standard noted.
This move is part of China’s comprehensive efforts to enhance childbirth support and address the challenges of a rapidly aging population. In October, the State Council issued a directive outlining 13 targeted measures to bolster childbirth support services, expand child care systems, strengthen support in education, housing, and employment, and foster a birth-friendly social atmosphere.
Over the past decade, China has gradually relaxed its family planning policies, phasing out the decades-long one-child policy. In 2021, the country announced support for couples wishing to have a third child.
Since then, local governments across the country have implemented a series of stimulus measures to encourage childbirth, including subsidies, expanded insurance coverage, extended maternity leave, and the establishment of more public child care facilities.
Reference(s):
China boosts maternity matron, nanny standards to support childbirth
cgtn.com
