Stephan Grannis, Michaelus,
No. A higher Healthcare index reduces deaths, but does not effect births.
No. Housewives have no effect on birth rates in Simcountry.
Other than going premium, there is basically nothing a player can do to change a nation's birth rate. Only death rates, through the healthcare index, are under player control. If you are already a Premium subscriber and you want to increase your population, you can use Gold Coins to purchase additional population.
Signed President of DanNation on LU