Factors Affecting Birth Rates

Factors Affecting Birth Rates

• Improvements in healthcare have led to a decrease in infant mortality. With lower infant death rates, families need to have fewer children.
• The traditional role of women as caregivers has been challenged by female emancipation. Women are now able to pursue education and careers, leading to smaller families.
• High costs associated with raising children, including prenatal and postnatal care, education, and childcare, can also limit family size.
• Lack of education about contraception and family planning contributes to unintended pregnancies and larger families.
• Some countries have implemented anti-natalist policies to control population growth, as in China.
• Delayed marriage and declining arranged marriages can also lead to lower birth rates.
• Improved care for the elderly reduces the need for children to care for their aging parents.
• Mechanization of agriculture and a shift towards tertiary and secondary sectors means fewer people are needed for farming.
• Changes in religious views have made abortion more acceptable in certain societies.
• Increased materialism and a changing understanding of happiness have led some individuals to prioritize personal achievement over family life.
• Stress and the perceived burdens associated with raising children can also contribute to a decline in birth rates.
• Fertility rates have been dropping globally due to factors such as chemical pollution and changing dietary habits.
• Developed countries are experiencing aging populations.

Mortality

• Infant mortality is measured as the number of infant deaths under 1 year old per 1,000 live births.
• Child mortality measures deaths of children under 5 years old per 1,000 live births.
• Life expectancy reflects the average age a person is expected to live. Japan holds the highest life expectancy globally.
  • Older individuals and very young children are more susceptible to disease, malnourishment, and natural disasters, which have a direct impact on life expectancy.
  • Females tend to have longer lifespans than males, a phenomenon attributed to both lifestyle factors and biological differences.

China's One-Child Policy

• The policy aimed to control China's rapidly growing population by limiting families to one child.
• Punishments for violating the policy included fines, job loss, denial of education and healthcare for children, forced abortions, and sterilization.
• The policy encouraged contraception and delayed marriage, with exceptions for families living in rural areas and ethnic minority groups.
• The one-child policy achieved a significant reduction in the total fertility rate and slowed down the population growth rate.
  • Birth rates have fallen dramatically.
  • Approximately 400 million births have been prevented since the policy's implementation.
• China's population is expected to peak in the first half of the 2030s.

Failures of the One-Child Policy

• The policy has faced criticisms regarding human rights violations, including forced abortions and sterilizations.
• The policy contributed to female infanticide, where male children were favored.
• China now has a significant gender imbalance, with more male than female births.
• The policy leads to an aging population and an increased dependency ratio.
• A shortage of workers in certain sectors has emerged as a consequence of the policy.
• The 'little emperors' syndrome, where only children are spoiled, has been attributed to the policy.
• The policy has been susceptible to corruption, with bribes paid to have additional children.

Migration

• Forced migration: People who have been displaced due to threats to their lives, such as war or natural disasters.
• Refugees: Individuals forced to flee their homes and countries. Common causes include:
  • War
  • Natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions
  • Famine and drought
  • Political unrest
  • Persecution based on ethnicity or religion
  • Crime and extortion
• Asylum seeker: A person who seeks refuge in a foreign country because of persecution based on race, religion, social group, or political opinion.
• Remittances: Money sent by migrants to their families living in different locations, typically in their home country.

Causes of Voluntary Migration

• Retirement
• Education: Seeking better educational opportunities at schools or universities.
• Work: Pursuing job opportunities.
• Medical care: Accessing cheaper or better medical treatment in a different country.
• Lifestyle: Seeking a more relaxed or desirable lifestyle in a new country.

Advantages of Migration for the Source Country

• Reduced unemployment due to increased job availability.
• Remittances sent home by migrants.
• Migrants may return home with new skills.
• Increased political ties with the receiving country.
• Less pressure on education and healthcare systems.
• Lower birth rates and fertility rates as migrants are typically in reproductive age range..

Disadvantages of Migration for the Source Country

• Brain drain: Loss of highly skilled and educated workers.
• Shortage of workers, especially during harvest seasons.
• Increased dependency ratio as economically active individuals migrate.
• Separation of families, potentially leading to children losing one or both parents.
• Dependency on remittances.

Advantages of Migration for the Host Country

• Brain gain: Gaining highly skilled and educated workers.
• High birth rates and fertility rates, potentially due to women maintaining traditional roles.
• Female employment: Women having jobs contributes to the economy.
• Reduced fertility rates and birth rates as women may delay marriage and childbearing.
• Greater female confidence and empowerment.
• Improved female health outcomes.

Disadvantages of Migration for the Host Country

• Racial tensions: An increase in tensions related to the influx of migrants.
• Traditional gender roles: Women may be kept in traditional roles and may not understand family planning.
• Lack of confidence among women.
• Reduced opportunities for women to find well-paid employment.
• Poor health outcomes for women due to lack of knowledge about self-care.

Gender Issues

• FGM (Female Genital Mutilation): Any procedure that alters or removes any part of the female genitalia. It has no medical benefits but affects millions of women.
  • It's often performed on young girls without pain relief and using unsterilized equipment.
  • Complications include pain, bleeding, infection, difficulty urinating, and infertility.
  • It's more of a cultural practice related to virginity and modesty than a religious one.
• Dowry: Property or money paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family.
• Bride burning: Killing of women due to failure to meet dowry payments or as a way for husbands to get rid of unwanted wives.
• Honour killing: Killing of individuals, usually females, to protect family or community honor. It can be triggered by accusations of relationships or even rape.
• Arranged marriage or forced marriage: Spouse selection is made by the family. It can be a method of creating family ties, managing debt, or getting rid of unwanted daughters.
• Gender inequality in inheritance: Women often inherit less than their brothers in many cultures.
• Tenure: Women may lose ownership rights to land after their husband's death.

Gender and Life Expectancy

• Globally, men have higher mortality rates, more disabilities, and shorter life expectancies than women.