Declining birth rates: Impact on perinatal health andhealthcare teams

Comment 1In recent years, birth rates have declined in most countries.However, globally, the total number of births has remained relatively stable at around 139 million per year.This is because fertility rates have remained high and stable in some countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Niger, Angola, and Uganda. 1 In Latin America, with the possible exception of Haiti, Bolivia, Paraguay, Honduras, and Guatemala, the decline in births has been constant, and especially abrupt in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. 2 This decline in birth rates presents a cluster of challenges that are very well described in the article by Alvarado Socarras and Vallejo Lpez, published in this issue of Archivos. 3ill the investment needed to continue research in perinatal health, especially in studies related to regional issues, be maintained?How can we continue to train health personnel in these specialties?Will neonatal care units be financially sustainable?The authors also highlight the importance of promoting simpler, more accessible care practices and regionalizing perinatal care.However, in countries such as Argentina, which are very large and have sparsely populated regions with poor roads and transportation,