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Table 1 Dimension, index, consensus definition and example of ESSTR system

From: Estimating the effects of policies on infertility prevalence worldwide

Dimensions and index

Consensus definition

Example

Economic support

 Insurance coverage

Covering costs of infertility examinations or treatments.

Infertility examinations: semen analysis, genetic testing, clinical examinations, etc.; Infertility treatments: assisted reproductive technology (artificial insemination, IVF and its derivative technology), etc.

 Financial assistance

Financial assistance from government and non-profit organizations for people seeking for assisted reproductive help.

Financial subsidies or allowance for the cost of infertility treatments that were not covered in insurance, etc.

 Economic reward

Economic reward from government for fertility.

Baby bonus, second child reward, multiple children reward, etc.

Social security

 Infertility diagnosis and treatment leave security

Policies to guarantee legal infertility diagnosis and treatment leave for people seeking for assisted reproduction assistance.

Paid or unpaid infertility examination leave, infertility treatment leave, etc.

 Parental leave security

Policies to guarantee legal parental leave for parents.

Paid or unpaid parental leave for fathers and mothers; protecting working women during marriage, pregnancy and childbirth; Eliminating worries about not being able to balance work and family, etc.

 Child care and education security

Policies to guarantee the basic childcare and educational needs of children.

Children’s enrollment, childcare facilities, compulsory education, etc.

 Life security

Policies to guarantee the basic living needs of children.

Housing security, living security, family welfare, etc.

Service package

 Maternal and child health service

Policies to improve the level of maternal and child health services and health.

Prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum health care services, etc.

Technology development guarantee

 Assisted reproductive technology development

Policies to support the maintenance and expansion of assisted reproductive technology and research progress.

Assisted reproductive technology research funding, talent introduction policy, etc.

Reproductive health protection

 Reproductive health education and protection

Policies to promote public reproductive health and quality.

Sex education, sexually transmitted disease prevention and education, etc.

  1. Abbreviation: ESSTR Economic support, Social security, Service package, Technology development guarantee, and Reproductive health protection, IVF In vitro fertilization