MADONNA'S recent failure to adopt another African child is indicative of a downwards trend in American adoptions. The urge to have a child is a powerful one and many couples have looked abroad to find a new family member. But foreign adoption has fallen from a peak in 2004 after a series of scandals over lax standards led to tighter rules in America. Increasing wealth in developing countries that sent children for adoption and declining birth rates may possibly mean that there are fewer suitable candidates.

AP