Year of Dog to bring baby boom and shortage of ayis
27/12/2005 8:37
Shanghai Daily news A baby boom is expected
next year, The Year of the Dog according to the lunar Calender, meaning there
should be huge demand for nurses who look after children during the first month
after deliver, or yuezi ayi as they are known in Chinese. The expected baby
boom is the result of an ancient Chinese superstition. Many people in the
country believe zodiac signs can affect a child's personality, so they prefer to
have children in the years of the tiger, monkey and dog. Local hospitals are
receiving more visits for maternity information and pregnancy check-ups. The
number of check-ups scheduled for next year have increased 10 percent at
Shanghai No. 8 People's Hospital, according to spokesperson Hu
Jianping. Babies born in the Year of the Dog are believed to be honest, loyal
and independent. Lots of couples would wait till a good zodiac year to have
babies, said Lai Meizhen, an obstetrician at the Shanghai Kangjian
Hospital. About half of all new parents in the city hire a yuezi ayi,
according to Xia Jun, a spokesperson for Shanghai EJLL Home Economics Services
Co. "The demand for yuezi ayis will certainly soar in the Year of the Dog,"
said Xia. "The prices might also increase depending on the situation." When
baby nurses were in short supply in the past, many new parents would offer
higher wages, said Xia, adding that a baby boom this year will probably push up
wages again. To prevent a shortage, many home service companies are training
ordinary domestic helpers to work as yuezi ayis. The average monthly salary
for a yuezi ayi is about 3,000 yuan (US$371). "Lots of them are happy to
become yuezi ayis, as their salaries can increase," said Xia. "Besides our
housekeeping services, I think more local women's hospitals should also offer
more training programs for yuezi ayis," said Zhu Wei, general manager of
Shanghai Boni Housekeeping Service. Experts also approve the use of yuezi
ayis to relieve new parents of stress. "They can be of great help to
inexperienced new mothers," said Lai with Kangjian
Hospital.
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