Births And Deaths In Populations

Question 1

What are the benefits of using a census in POPULATION?

Answer 1

• Accurate count of population in each local area allows Government to calculate the size of grants it allocates to each local authority and health authority
• Authorities can used census when planning services in their areas

Question 2

What are the benefits of using a census in HEALTH?

Answer 2

• Gather data on the socio-economic make-up of the population (more specifically on general health, long term illness and carers)
• Allows the Government to plan health and social services, as well as allocate resources

Question 3

What is a census?

Answer 3

The simultaneous recording of demographic data by the government at a particular time pertaining to all the individuals that live in a particular territory

Question 4

List the uses of a census

Answer 4

• Population
• Health
• Housing
• Employment
• Transport
• Ethnic group

Question 5

What is Crude Birth Rate (CBR)?

Answer 5

• Number of live births per 1000 people in a population

- Describes the impact of births on the size of the population

Question 6

What is General Fertility Rate (GFR)?

Answer 6

• Number of live births per 1000 females aged 15-44yrs

- Compares the fertility of fertile women in a population

Question 7

What is Total Period Fertility Rate (TPFR)?

Answer 7

• The average number of children that would be born to a hypothetical woman in her life
• Removes influence of age group structure when comparing fertile females

Question 8

What is FECUNDITY and how is it affected?

Answer 8

• The physical ability of a woman to reproduce

- Decreased by sterilisation and hysterectomies

Question 9

What is FERTILITY and how is it affected?

Answer 9

• Realisation of the potential of fecundity as births
• Increased by sexual activity
• Decreased by economic climate, miscarriages, contraception and abortion

Question 10

Why is it beneficial to collect mortality data?

Answer 10

• Classify cause of death
• Analyse patterns in mortality rates
• Identify health problems -> inform health services

Question 11

List 3 factors that affect population size

Answer 11

• Birth
• Death
• Migration

Question 12

State a disadvantage of using GFR over CBR

Answer 12

GFR involves knowing the number of 15-44yr old females within a population, which may be difficult to attain

Question 13

List 3 ways in which MORTALITY RATE can be measured and state how for each one

Answer 13

• Crude Death Rate (CDR) -> no. of deaths per 1000 population
• Age Specific Death Rate (ASDR) -> no. of deaths per 1000 people in each age category
• SMR -> no. of observed deaths within a population compared to the no. of expected deaths within a reference population

Question 14

What might population projections for the future depend on?

Answer 14

• Projected migration

- Fertility rates

Question 15

Why is fertility rate difficult to predict within a population?

Answer 15

Determined by social behaviour (such as sexual activity, effect of economic climate, contraception etc.) which varies within a population