Babies born to foreign spouses of Taiwanese men may be healthier than those born to local women, according to a survey by the Department of Health, belying a myth that they are "inferior in terms of eugenics," resulting in more stillbirths or premature births.
The survey, conducted by the health department's Bureau of Health Promotion, was released at an academic seminar sponsored by the Taiwan Medical Association.
The number of foreign spouses of Taiwanese is rising rapidly, with one such mixed marriage in every 4.2, according to the latest statistics.
A local stereotype associated with foreign spouses is that they give birth to children with poorer health "because of language barriers and the different environment" the spouses face.
Information collected on births to foreign spouses between 2002 and last year, however, shows that the number of stillbirths and figures on birth weights, birth weeks and birth defects are all better than those born to local women.
Tsai Yi-chien (蔡益堅), a section chief in charge of population and health surveys, said the reason might be attributed to the age difference, noting that the foreign spouses of Taiwan men are generally younger and therefore healthier when they give birth.
The survey also found that as most foreign spouses do not work outside the home, they are able stay home more and spend more time with their children.
But Tsai also cautioned that the survey was based on data collected over only three years and said that more observations must be made before any meaningful comparison can be made.
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