Birth rates and fertility Flashcards
Describe TFR
Total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman has during her fertile years
Decreased to 1.83 children in 2014
Peaks due baby booms
When were the baby booms?
End of WW1 and WW1
Why has birth rate decreased?
Contraception is more readily available and womens roles are changing
More expense and time consuming
Describe changes in womens position
Legal equality with me
Educational opportunies
Easier access to divroce
Access to abortion
What did Harper say about birth rates?
Education is most important reason for long term birth rate fall, led to changing mind sets, see more possibilities, more career focused
Once a pattern of low fertility lasts it becomes a norm
Define IMR
Measure the number of infants who die berfore 1st birthday per thousand babies born alive per year
Stats of IMR
15% in 1900s
0.5% now
Why did IMR begin to fall?
Improved housing and better sanitation Better healthcare Better knowledge Better nutrition Improved services for parents
Describe IMR in 1950s
Medical factors greater role - mass immusinsation against childhood diseases ie whooping cough and measles, use antibiotics and imporved midwifery contributed to the fall
What did Brass and Kair say
Trend to smaller families began not in rural areas where IMR began to fall but in urban areas where IMR higher for longer
How have children become an economic liability
Laws banning child labour and compulsory schooling means they are dependent for longer
Changing norms - what children have a right to expect from their parents in material terms
Describe child centredness
Childhood is socially constructed as uniquely important period, quality to quantity
Define dependency ratio
RElationship between size of working part of population and size of the non working part
Describe dependency ratio
Earnings and savings and taxes of working must support dependent population, children part of this so fall in children reduces burden of the ratio
Fewer babies being born means less working young adults increasing the ratio
Describe public services and policies
Fewer schools and maternity servies may be needed. Affects cost of maternity and paterniry leave and types of housing Political decision ie reduce class size not schools
