The Real Fertility Crisis Is When Couples Are Denied Choice

Dr Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Representative for Malaysia | Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Malaysia

09-Jul-25 16:00

The Real Fertility Crisis Is When Couples Are Denied Choice

Pause
Embed

We keep being told that there is a ‘fertility crisis’ as people continue to have fewer children or none at all. But is there really a crisis brewing? We explore reasons why people are choosing to not have children and why this is a problem with sexual and reproductive health rights, with Dr Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Representative for Malaysia, and Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, Assistant Representative with UNPFA Malaysia.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Muhammad Naufal Ubaidi, Lim Sue Ann

Presented by: Lim Sue Ann

This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories: health policy, Family/Parenting

Tags: reproductive agency, the bigger picture, world population day, fertility, sexual and reproductive health rights, women’s health, health & living,

Today’s Shows

6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence, tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Prof. Amin Saikal of The Australian National University weighs in on the impact of UK and France’s push to recognize Palestinian statehood amid the Gaza conflict.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

We break down the day’s top news with expert insights.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Shakira Teh Sharifuddin, Senior Economist at the World Bank shares key findings and policy takeaways from the 2024 Inclusive Employment Practices Survey in Malaysia.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Amin Ashaari of Soya Cincau joins us to unpack non - compliance cases involving large mobile service providers.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We bring you the latest on Bursa Malaysia and international capital markets.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Chee Minh, a freelance photographer and personal trainer talks about full-time gig work.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Nale CEO Andreas Domingo on building a premium nasi lemak brand, the strategy behind scaling in malls, and taking Malaysia’s national dish to the world.

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

CelcomDigi’s Afizulazha Abdullah and Bridgenet’s Keane Leong on scalable, NACSA-certified cybersecurity solutions built to protect businesses of every size.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

FIDE FORUM’s Tay Kay Luan on unspoken boardroom dynamics, the power of Chairpersons, and why culture is the missing link in Malaysia’s governance playbook.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

Parti Sosialis Malaysia joins us to discuss the congress that took place over the weekend and how they plan to pull the country’s political culture to the left.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Staying clean, one day at a time? Narcotics Anonymous Malaysia is here to help drug addicts with that.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday

When was the last time you got a pay rise, and was it significant?

8:00 PM

BBC World Service

This episode of Crowd Science wonders whether technology can improve our brains.

PROGRAMMES