Couples finding adoption more difficult

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 27

Couples finding adoption more difficult

Christchurch married couples are waiting up to three years to adopt a child because of a big drop in the number of babies available for adoption. Figures provided by the Social Welfare Department show that only 31 couples were able to adopt in the first six months of this year,, although there were more than 100 applications. During the corresponding period last year there were 53 adoptions. A departmental social worker (Mr W. C. Edmundson) said fewer babies had been available for adoption in the last year. Some couples had been waiting nearly three years. The head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Christchurch Women’s Hospital (Mr K. D. Drayton) said that there was little hope for many people. Some, who were aware of the situation, did not bother to apply. Mr Drayton said that two factors had contributed to the drop in babies available for adoption —

more abortions, and single women preferring to keep their babies. Social and economic conditions had changed, he said. Previously women preferred to have their babies adopted. There was little public condemnation of single women who kept their children, and welfare benefits aided them. The drop in numbers of babies available for adoption would be a long-term trend. Christchurch Women’s Hospital and private hospitals had facilities to provide advice and aid to couples who cannot easily have children, Mr Drayton said. Christchurch Women s Hospital also had an artificial insemination service available. Only a limited number of couples who had infertility problems used the service. In spite of long delays in matching couples to suitable babies through the Social Welfare Department, Mr Edmundson said, couples were reasonably content to wait once they went through the selection process.