The Baby Box

英倫聚焦

The Baby Box 芬蘭好用寶寶紙箱風靡英國 撰文及考題設計 British Council 英協教育中心 Melissa Henry 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯）

自從芬蘭政府送給威廉王子（右）與妻子凱特（左）的長子喬治小王子（中） 「寶寶紙箱」後，寶寶紙箱就在英國引起廣泛討論。（歐新社）

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全球中央雜誌 2016.06

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

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before their fourth month of pregnancy to be given

he first 'baby box'’ gained attention in the UK

the box. Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital

in July 2013 when the Finnish government

have likewise adopted educational classes for their

gave a baby box to Prince William and Kate when

pilot project in London.

Prince George was born. Since then, there have

「寶寶 紙 箱」來自芬 蘭。193 0 年 的芬 蘭 因為

been a number of conversations surrounding the

國家經濟因素，嬰兒死亡率高達千分之65；1938

origins and benefits of the baby box. Now, Queen

年，無力準備新生兒用品與提供乾淨、安全育嬰

Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital in London started a

環境的較低所得家庭，依照《芬蘭產婦法》，都

pilot project in April 2016 to give 600 ‘Baby Boxes’

能獲得「寶寶紙箱」。1949年起，芬蘭所有準媽

for free to new mothers. The baby boxes include

媽 都能拿到寶寶紙箱。前提 是所有孕 婦都得在

essential items for a newborn baby, such as clothing,

懷孕四個月內參加產前「媽媽教室」才能拿到這

bedding, hygiene products, and the box itself can be

個箱子。夏洛 特女皇 暨雀兒喜醫院同樣地也 為

used as a portable crib. The main objectives of the

這項試驗計畫，實施產前教育課程。

project are to decrease the infant mortality rate and to provide education to expecting mothers.

3 The contents of the Finnish baby box have

2013年7月，芬蘭政府送給威廉王子與妻子凱

changed over the years, fluctuating with times of

特 的 長 子 喬 治 的「寶 寶 紙 箱」，在 英 國 受 到 關

war, the increase of working mothers, and health

注，自此，「寶寶紙 箱」的來源與 好處受 到廣泛

initiatives such as encouraging breastfeeding.

討論。倫敦夏洛 特女皇暨雀兒喜醫院遂在2016

Nevertheless, despite a family’s background and

年4月展開一個試驗計畫，免費送出600個「寶寶

status, each child born is given an equal start

紙 箱」給 新手 媽 媽，裡面 有 給 新生 兒 的必備 物

in life. For the Finnish government, the scheme

品，包括衣物、被單與衛生用品等，箱子本身還

was a huge success as the infant mortality rate

能做為可攜式嬰兒床，主要目的是降低嬰兒死亡

declined sharply each year and remains one of the

率與衛教準媽媽。

lowest in the world at 2 in every 1,000 live births.

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The success can also be attributed to a national

The box originated from Finland, as their infant

healthcare system that started in the 1960s and

mortality rate in the 1930s reached 65 out of 1,000

a central hospital network. The UK is hoping to

due to the economic status in the country. In 1938,

achieve similar results, as their rate is currently 4

under the ‘Finnish Maternity Grants Act’, a baby

in every 1,000 live births.

box was given to lower income families that did

芬蘭寶寶紙箱的內容物反映出時代改變，像是

not have the means to provide the essentials or a

戰事、職業婦女增加與鼓勵餵母乳等衛生計畫。

clean, safe sleeping place for a newborn baby. In

儘管如此，即使家庭背景與社經地位不一，每個

1949, the Finnish government began giving the box

新生兒都有平等的起始點。對芬蘭政府而言，這

to all mothers. However, expectant mothers were,

項計畫 非常成 功，因為嬰兒死亡率逐 年大幅 下

and still are, required to attend pre-natal classes

降，以千分之2的嬰兒死亡率維持在全球最低的

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英倫聚焦

源自芬蘭的「寶寶紙箱」，主要目的是降低嬰兒死亡率 與教育準爸媽。箱子本身還能做為可攜式嬰兒床。 （取自網路）

國家之一。 這項成功也歸因於芬蘭1960年代開

的育嬰箱為塑膠材質，除了床以外，還可做為澡

始的國家衛生照護系統與中央醫院網絡。目前英

盆使用，產前媽媽教室的目的是降低感染愛滋病

國的嬰兒死亡率為千分之4，希望也能達到相同

毒的產婦死亡率以及減少垂直傳染風險。印度的

成果。

育嬰箱則提供避免感染的生產工具，以及一個蚊

4 Other countries have previously adopted the baby

來降低母嬰同床導致嬰兒意外窒息的「嬰兒猝死

box programme but also adapted it to fit their local

症」。加拿大則要求準爸媽要持續上課直到嬰兒

needs. In South Africa, the baby box is plastic to

出生滿六個月，以協助這些新手爸媽因應有孩子

double as a bath instead of a bed and the pre-natal

加入的新生活。

classes aim to reduce HIV-positive mater nal

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mortality and the risk of passing HIV to the child.

All countries have the same objective – reduce the

India’s baby box provides a birth kit to avoid

infant mortality rate and educate parents. Despite

infection and a mosquito net to protect babies from

criticism, the baby box has helped achieve goals and

contracting malaria. In the US, the baby boxes are

provide a better start for children. For Finland, it has

given to reduce the number of Sudden Infant Death

also become the symbol of equality; hopefully it can

Syndrome caused by accidental suffocation from

achieve the same for the UK.

mothers sleeping beside their child. Canada requires

這 些國家都 有一 個相同的目標：降低 嬰兒死

a mentorship program for soon to be parents until

亡 率 與 教育 準爸 媽。儘 管受 到些許 批 評，但寶

six months after birth, to help cope with a new life

寶紙 箱 有助達到目標、也 為兒 童 提 供更好的生

with a child.

命 起 始 點。對芬 蘭 而言，寶寶紙 箱 已 成 為 平等

其他國家也有因地制宜的寶寶紙箱計畫。南非

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帳來預防寶寶感染瘧疾。美國的育嬰箱目的是用

全球中央雜誌 2016.06

的象徵，希望 英國也能做到。

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

Key Words p i l o t p r o j e c t – 試驗計畫 small project to determine how well the project works before starting it fully economic status – 經濟地位 measure of a person’s position in society based on income, education, and occupation have the means to – 能夠 are able to expectant mother – 孕婦 pregnant woman pre-natal – 產前 before birth

雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre

adopt – 採取 take up, start to use, or follow attribute to – 歸因於 caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – 嬰兒猝死 症 death of a healthy baby in its sleep due to a sudden stop in breathing cope with – 解決 deal with responsibilities or problems despite criticism – 無視批評 without being affected by negative comments

雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions

Do the following statements agree with the information given? Choose: TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

if the statement agrees with the information if the statement contradicts the information if there is no information on this

1. The ‘Baby Box’ was invented by the Finnish government.

2. There are other goals to the ‘Baby Box’ besides providing mothers with the essential needs of a new born baby.

3. The Finnish ‘Baby Box’ has changed over time to reflect the economic and health needs of that time.

4. The ‘Baby Box’ is the only reason why infant mortality rates declined in Finland throughout the 20th century.

5. Other countries also require mothers to attend pre-natal classes to receive the ‘Baby Box’.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

6. Which man got a ‘Baby Box’ and thus made it become popular in the UK? 7. What other goal does the ‘Baby Box’ have besides reducing the infant mortality rate?

8. How many deaths per 1,000 live births did Finland reduce their infant mortality rate from the 1930s to now?

9. What health risk does the box’s mosquito net combat in India?

10. What kind of symbol does the write hope the ‘Baby Box’ can turn into for the UK? 6. Prince William

7. education

Answers: 1. Not Given CNA NEWSWORLD

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2. True

8. 65 3. True

9. malaria 4. False

10. equality 5. Not Given